Two Chinese mega bridges in Eastern Cape are finally making progress towards completion. As we reported back in 2023, in the face of engineering complexity, public unrest and other unforeseen delays, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) could only set to work in earnest on the Mtentu and Msikaba Chinese mega bridges in Eastern Cape last year.
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An Engineering News report calls it the flagship N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project, which covers 410km from the N2 Gonubie Interchange near East London, to the Mtamvuna river bridge, and Port Edward in KwaZulu-Natal.
CHINESE MEGA BRIDGES IN EASTERN CAPE
As part of our BRICS partnership, the Chinese mega bridges in Eastern Cape were designed as long ago as 2004. However, following various setbacks and delays, the real work could only start in 2019. The Msikaba bridge spans a 198-m-deep river gorge and is being constructed by a Concor-Mota Engil joint venture. It is considered to be the most complex structure of its type in Africa.
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Measuring 580m, it will be the longest cable-stay bridge in Africa. It will also rank as one of the highest bridges on the continent, only exceeded by the Bloukrans bridge at 216m. The Msikaba bridge is earmarked for completion by the end of the year.
MTENTU BRIDGE
Once completed, the second of the Chinese mega bridges in Eastern Cape – the Mtentu bridge – will be the highest in Africa. Contracted by China Communications Construction Company and Mota-Engil Construction, it will also be one of the longest main-span balanced cantilever bridges in the world at 260m.
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Denmark-based architecture company, Dissing+Weitling, designed both Chinese mage bridges in Eastern Cape. The Mtentu bridge has an estimated budget of R4 billion, creating a minimum of 1 550 full-time jobs for local skilled and unskilled people. Job numbers will vary during the contract period but it’s believed an average of 520 jobs will be created every month for 50 months.
MSIKABA BRIDGE
The Msikaba bridge has an estimated value of R1.75 billion. To date, R553 million has been spent on 44 suppliers, 52 service providers and 61 subcontractors. About R93-million has been spent on wages for local labour. As for economic benefits of the Chinese mega bridges in Eastern Cape, the projects have a specified minimum expenditure of 30% on local suppliers. This will see roughly R4 billion flowing to small and medium enterprises in the areas.
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Following the setback of all major construction work shutting down during the COVID-19 State of Disaster, the Mtentu bridge construction thus effectively started only in August last year. An Aveng Strabag joint venture was abandoned early in 2019 following community protests.
WEATHER DIFFICULTIES
There were also delays in the construction of the Msikaba bridge caused by surging winds of up to 80 km/h up the gorge, which were so strong that work had to be suspended. Occasionally mist covering the gorge resulted in work having to be suspended, too. We’ll keep a keen eye on these engineering projects in South Africa.
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