LUSIKISIKI – Construction of the multi-billion-rand Msikaba Bridge has reached an important milestone, with the project now 70% complete and the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) remaining confident that the bridge will be completed in 2029.

As previously reported, the bridge forms part of the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road Project, a National Strategic Infrastructure Project aimed at improving connectivity between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Once completed, it will become Africa’s longest cable-stayed bridge and is expected to significantly improve travel along the route.

SANRAL spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela said steady progress had been made on the bridge itself, with major work continuing on its support structures and bridge deck.

“Work complete, including the scope extension, is now at 70%,” said Mahlasela.

He said several bridge deck segments had already been fabricated, while the fabrication and construction of the remaining deck segments continued.

Steel challenges remain

Earlier this year, SANRAL said delays to the project were largely due to challenges within South Africa’s steel fabrication industry.

Mahlasela said the situation had not improved, but SANRAL has started the procurement process to appoint a fabricator for the remaining deck segments.

“The situation has not improved. However, there are fabricators who have shown interest in fabricating the remaining deck segments,” said Mahlasela.

In the meantime, fabrication of the remaining deck segments is continuing at the Highveld production facility.

Despite these challenges, Mahlasela said SANRAL remained confident that the project would meet its revised completion date.

“SANRAL is confident that it will complete the project in 2029, based on the current progress in deck segment fabrication and the contractor’s commitment to start launching the bridge deck with the assistance of international specialists from Freyssinet at the beginning of 2027,” said Mahlasela.

He added that no new risks had been identified that were expected to affect the revised completion date.

Work continues on site

Mahlasela said construction activities were continuing both on site and at the Highveld fabrication facility.

He said current work included refurbishing equipment, repairing construction platforms, carrying out concrete testing and continuing the fabrication of the remaining deck segments.

Mahlasela said at the Highveld production facility, work is continuing, although administrative and material bottlenecks are delaying the movement of some components through the production stages.

Ongoing challenges

He said the project continued to face several engineering and financial challenges.

These include sourcing alternative materials for the concrete mix after a previously approved material became unavailable, securing additional funding for certain aspects of the project, rising fuel prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East, cash flow pressures, and finalising the procurement process for a new steel fabricator.

Benefits for local communities

Beyond the bridge itself, Mahlasela said the project had continued to benefit surrounding communities.

“The project has created 275 work opportunities, with R178 million spent through these opportunities. A further 184 local businesses have benefited through project-related expenditure of approximately R812 million,” said Mahlasela.

Progress on the wider N2 project

He said construction was also progressing on other sections of the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road.

“Two connecting road projects are currently under construction, while another five road packages remain in the design phase,” said Mahlasela.

He said construction of the Mtentu Bridge was also under way, although it had experienced delays due to difficult ground conditions encountered during the construction of access roads.

Meanwhile, Mahlasela said the road project between Lingeni and Msikaba was progressing well, with support from local communities, while the section between the Msikaba and Mtentu bridges was only slightly behind schedule and performing strongly.

Transforming travel

Once completed, the Msikaba Bridge is expected to reduce the travelling distance between KuGompo City and Durban by about 85km.

Mahlasela said the shorter route would make the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road the preferred route for many motorists, while contributing to socio-economic development in surrounding communities.

He also reassured communities and road users that SANRAL remained committed to completing the bridge in 2029.

“The high level of technical expertise required for the bridge, much of which had to be sourced internationally, together with the remote location of the project, has contributed to the delays experienced during construction,” said Mahlasela.

He added that the bridge deck would be launched by international specialists from Freyssinet, who had already completed the required engineering assessments.

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