The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) CEO, Reginald Demana, has announced that the R1.72-billion Msikaba Bridge is steadily creeping toward completion.
The Msikaba Bridge is billed as the longest suspension bridge in South Africa. It spans the Msikaba gorge and river located near the town of Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape (EC), and is intended to significantly reduce travel times for vehicles driving from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, with the current road consisting of an 80km inland diversion passing Kokstad.
In a recent media statement, Demana said that the inverted-Y pylon structures on both sides of the bridge that will support the cables are over 90% completed.
Construction of the bridge deck, which started in January 2023, is anticipated to conclude in the first quarter of 2025, with the cable installation expected within the same period.
“The project has suffered some delays due to the unavailability of cable in the local market which required that it be imported from overseas suppliers, as well as challenges related to the complexity of the engineering,” said Demana.
However, it has brought significant opportunities for EC communities, requiring 44 local suppliers, 48 service providers, and 61 subcontractors to the tune of R665.6 million.
Additionally, over R115 million in wages has been paid, while R76 million has been spent on “generic and community training to fulfill the specific needs of the community,” said the CEO.
Msikaba Bridge Pier
Meanwhile, on the Mtentu Bridge, which when completed will be the tallest bridge on the continent with a peak of 223 metres, Sanral is presently active with the construction of access roads to the piers, a third trial blasting operation, and geotechnical investigative drilling for Pier 2 and Pier 11.
The project boasts a massive budget of R4.05 billion and is being erected across the Mtentu River running through the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela municipality in EC.
To date, approximately R250 million has been spent on the contract and 248 local labourers have been employed.
Completed Mtentu Bridge Illustration
N2 Wild Coast Road Project forging ahead
Demana announced the status of the bridges during the launch of a new phase for the R20-billion N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) Project, a major 110km upgrade to one of the country’s most important connectivity roads.
“The main reason for the N2WCR – and why our government deliberately made a decision to invest about R20 billion in this part of the country – is because it’s a major connectivity road,” said Demana.
“It connects four provinces, that is the N2 starting in Cape Town in the Western Cape, running into the Eastern Cape, and then on to KwaZulu-Natal, and finally into Mpumalanga, which then further connects to neighbouring Mozambique.”
The significance of the project is that it reduces travel distance between Post St John’s and Port Shepstone by 80km, and cuts total travel time by up to two hours, depending on the type of vehicle.
“Obviously, with shorter travel distances it reduces transport costs or logistics costs. It’s also flatter and therefore safer,” said the CEO.
“We believe by doing that, we are enhancing the connectivity and also enhancing the ability to trade more efficiently.”
In total, the N2WCR project is estimated to create about 8,000 to 9,000 full-time equivalent jobs, with between 22,000 and 28,000 indirect jobs.
Sanral CEO Reginald Demana receives progress report from Laurence Savage, Msikaba Bridge Project Director
The newest section of the N2WCR that is now being initiated is Package Four, which is the construction of an access road between the Lingeni Intersection and the Msikaba Bridge that will be undertaken by WBHO-Edwin Construction Joint Venture, valued at R2.2 billion.
Package Four is set to commence in January 2025 after a four-month mobilisation period and is anticipated to create 400 jobs to the value of R176 million, with R700 million (35% of the contract) set aside for Contract Participation Goals (CPG) to ensure participation by local targeted enterprises.
Package Five, comprising the construction of a connecting road from the North Bank of Msikaba Bridge to the South Bank of Mtentu Bridge, awarded to WBHO-H&I Joint Venture for R2.5 billion, started in April 2023 and is anticipated to conclude in the last quarter of 2027, said Demana.
The contract has a CPG value of R769 million including R2.6 million earmarked for training, R5.5 million for skills development for targeted enterprises, and R8 million for community development projects.
To date, the project has generated 445 job opportunities and appointed 41 targeted enterprises.
In addition to Sanral’s Contractor Development Programme, which is in its final approval stages, Sanral Regional Manager for the Southern Region, Mbulelo Peterson, said that Packages One, Two, and Three of the N2WCR are in design and will soon be implemented.
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