Plans are afoot for the construction of the Msikaba Bridge, the second major bridge which will form part of the flagship multi-billion rand N2 Wild Coast road.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has set aside R1.7-billion for the construction of the bridge, which is located about 23km east of Lusikisiki. It forms part of the backbone of the greenfields portion of the N2WCR.
Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said the tender process for the bridge was reopened officially yesterday and will close in March next year.
It is the second time that bidders are being invited to tender after the initial tender was cancelled as no acceptable tenders were received.
“The re-tendering process is now open and we are confident that this round of tendering will be successful,” said Mona.
He said construction of the bridge was expected to begin in the second half of next year, and is expected to take 33 months, finishing in April 2020.
The 580m-long Msikaba Bridge will cross the 195m-deep Msikaba River gorge and will be the longest span cable stayed suspension bridge in South Africa and the second longest in Africa after the 680m Maputo-Catembe bridge currently under construction in Mozambique.
“All firms or consortiums who are able to meet the stringent technical functionality requirements that include relevant past company experience in construction of major bridges – particularly cable stay bridges – and have key staff with the necessary experience and expertise, and necessary financial stability to undertake a R1.7-billion project over approximately a three-year period have been invited to tender,” Mona said.
This forms part of the N2WC project launched in 2004, but legal wrangles delayed its rollout.
Premier Phumulo Masualle announced in December 2015 that the building of key mega-bridges would begin this year after stakeholders found common ground in the areas in dispute. The progress on the second bridge project comes three months after Sanral awarded a R1.63-billion tender for the construction of the Mtentu Bridge.
Mona said the company, Aveng Strabag Joint Venture (JV), is set to start the actual construction of the bridge in January.
It is scheduled for completion in April 2021.
Together with the Mtentu Bridge, the Msikaba Bridge will play an essential role in improving travel time, connecting previously divided communities in the region and opening up opportunities in business and community-based tourism for the Wild Coast, Mona said.
“By improving the travel time between Durban and East London by up to three hours for heavy freight and providing a high mobility route through an area that is extremely isolated and under-served by road infrastructure, the route will have significant social and economic benefits and will act as a catalyst for local and regional development,” Mona said.
Direct job creation on the N2WCR greenfields projects has been forecasted at 1.8-million workdays or 8000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs over the construction period of four to five years.
“More than R400-million will be allocated to wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers employed directly on the N2WCR project and a further R1.5-billion is destined for local SMMEs comprising local contractors and local suppliers of goods and services to the road and bridge construction projects,” Mona said.
Tender out for R1.7bn bridge
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has set aside R1.7-billion for the construction of the bridge, which is located about 23km east of Lusikisiki. It forms part of the backbone of the greenfields portion of the N2WCR.
Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said the tender process for the bridge was reopened officially yesterday and will close in March next year.
It is the second time that bidders are being invited to tender after the initial tender was cancelled as no acceptable tenders were received.
“The re-tendering process is now open and we are confident that this round of tendering will be successful,” said Mona.
He said construction of the bridge was expected to begin in the second half of next year, and is expected to take 33 months, finishing in April 2020.
The 580m-long Msikaba Bridge will cross the 195m-deep Msikaba River gorge and will be the longest span cable stayed suspension bridge in South Africa and the second longest in Africa after the 680m Maputo-Catembe bridge currently under construction in Mozambique.
“All firms or consortiums who are able to meet the stringent technical functionality requirements that include relevant past company experience in construction of major bridges – particularly cable stay bridges – and have key staff with the necessary experience and expertise, and necessary financial stability to undertake a R1.7-billion project over approximately a three-year period have been invited to tender,” Mona said.
This forms part of the N2WC project launched in 2004, but legal wrangles delayed its rollout.
Premier Phumulo Masualle announced in December 2015 that the building of key mega-bridges would begin this year after stakeholders found common ground in the areas in dispute. The progress on the second bridge project comes three months after Sanral awarded a R1.63-billion tender for the construction of the Mtentu Bridge.
Mona said the company, Aveng Strabag Joint Venture (JV), is set to start the actual construction of the bridge in January.
It is scheduled for completion in April 2021.
Together with the Mtentu Bridge, the Msikaba Bridge will play an essential role in improving travel time, connecting previously divided communities in the region and opening up opportunities in business and community-based tourism for the Wild Coast, Mona said.
“By improving the travel time between Durban and East London by up to three hours for heavy freight and providing a high mobility route through an area that is extremely isolated and under-served by road infrastructure, the route will have significant social and economic benefits and will act as a catalyst for local and regional development,” Mona said.
Direct job creation on the N2WCR greenfields projects has been forecasted at 1.8-million workdays or 8000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs over the construction period of four to five years.
“More than R400-million will be allocated to wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers employed directly on the N2WCR project and a further R1.5-billion is destined for local SMMEs comprising local contractors and local suppliers of goods and services to the road and bridge construction projects,” Mona said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos