Illovo railway bridge designs unveiled
The new railway bridge across the Illovo River will bring great relief to commuters who currently rely on more costly modes of transport.
DESIGNS for a new railway bridge over the Illovo River have been unveiled to the public. The draft basic-assessment report, which includes the bridge details, was recently available for public viewing and feedback at the Kingsburgh Library.
Also read: WATCH: Shocking state of Illovo River steel bridge
The two proposed versions differ in design but are both intended to withstand future flooding, which has caused the bridge to wash away twice before. Before the 2022 floods, the 1959 floods also caused damage to the bridge.
The company, EnviroPart, responsible for the assessment report, stated that the raising of the berm in 1941 significantly altered the Illovo River mouth, causing a loss in the open water body area of the estuary and changing mouth dynamics. To address this, the proposal is to extend the bridge to the current location of the berm to avoid bringing in more sediment for restoration. The new 340m bridge will provide stability and endurance across the estuary environment, replacing the old steel bridge. Three additional spans on the northern side will increase flood drainage capacity.
The first alternative involves a precast beam design, replacing the existing concrete piers with 13 new ones to reduce flow around the bridge during maximum flood velocities. The second alternative features a post-tensioned box girder design with in-situ concrete box beams supported on coffin-shaped wall-type piers.
Currently, trains from Durban only go as far as Winklespruit, with no service between Illovo Beach and Kelso since 2022.
Once the environmental impact assessment is complete, a budget will be allocated for the project, according to provincial Metrorail spokesperson Zama Nomnganga.
“The suspension of train services has negatively impacted our passengers, who have had to rely on more expensive modes of transport. Construction could begin as early as the next financial year,” said Nomnganga.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
