Name of the Project
N2 Wild Coast Toll Road (N2WCTR) megabridges project.

Location
The bridges will be built over the Msikaba river gorge and the Mtentu river gorge, both near Lusikisiki, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

Client
South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral).

Project Description
The Msikaba and Mtentu bridges form the backbone of the greenfield portion of the N2WCTR project – one of government’s 18 Strategic Integrated Projects. 

The greenfield section of the N2WCTR extends from Port Edward, in KwaZulu-Natal, through Lusikisiki, to Port St Johns, in the Eastern Cape. 

This section is a new road and, without the bridges, will not be able to be completed.

The 1.13-km-long Mtentu bridge will be one of the longest main-span-balanced cantilever bridges in the world. 

Reaching heights of more than 220 m, it will displace the Bloukraans bridge, in the Western Cape, as the highest bridge in Africa and the southern hemisphere.

The 580-m-long Msikaba bridge will be the longest main span – constructed by cable-stay method – in Africa, and the second-longest main bridge span in Africa after the Maputo-Catembe suspension bridge, in Mozambique.

The Msikaba bridge cable-stayed design will ensure that the construction of the bridge will have no direct impact on the pristine gorge environment 200 m below, which is one of the environmental requirements in building the bridge.

Pedestrian sidewalks and view sites, which will provide special viewing points for tourists, will be built on either side of the bridges.

Potential Job Creation
Semiskilled and unskilled labour will be sourced locally, and local small, medium-sized and micro enterprises contractors and suppliers of goods and services will be used to meet the required contractor participation goals on the two projects, creating much-needed jobs and local economic development.

Value
The Mtentu bridge will cost R1.634-billion and the Msikaba bridge will cost an estimated R1.65-billion.

Duration
Construction of the Mtentu bridge started in January and is scheduled to take about 40 months.

Construction of the Msikaba bridge is due to start in February 2019. The project is expected to take 33 months to complete. This excludes an initial three-month ramp-up period starting in October this year.

Latest Developments
The Aveng Strabag JV, responsible for building the Mtentu bridge, has not returned to site following a three-month break as a result of violent community protests against the project. Work on the Mtentu north bridge site was suspended from October 22 last year.

The project has been plagued by protests from surrounding communities, stating that they are unhappy with the number of jobs provided for them by Sanral.

 “We can confirm that the Aveng Strabag JV . . . did not return to site to start work on Monday, 14 January 2019, after the suspension of works was lifted,” Sanral southern region lead N2 Wild Coast road project manager Craig McLachlan has said.

“The main contractor has cited remaining safety concerns as the main reason for not returning to site yet.

“Sanral is currently engaging the main contractor to ensure that they return to site as soon as possible. The outcomes of the engagements with the Aveng Strabag JV will be provided as soon as they have been finalised.”

Work on the Mtentu north bridge site was suspended from October 22 last year, owing to violent community protests.

McLachlan says the N2 Wild Coast road political oversight committee, chaired by Eastern Cape Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana, led negotiations to find a solution to the unrest.

Following protracted negotiations with the community, the petitioners and other local stakeholders, a resolution was reached on January 9, with "all parties" agreeing on a process to resolve the remaining issues.

“A process was also agreed on to address any future issues without stopping work, and it was resolved that . . . bridge construction could resume unhindered from Monday, 14 January 2019.”

McLachlan has also said that another outcome of the meeting was that a mobile police station would be established near the site to assist with security.

“All local stakeholders are now eager for the project to resume. Conditions around the site are peaceful.”

It appears, however, that the Aveng Strabag JV does not share Sanral’s sentiments.

Aveng confirms that it has been “unable to work on the project site, owing to threats, unrest and protest action by the local community” related to demands made against Sanral as the employer of the Mtentu project.

“These events constitute a force majeure event under the contract.”

Aveng is aware that disruption does sometimes occur on construction sites, but has said that the nature of the threats in this instance, as well as the level of unrest and protest action, are unprecedented.

“The construction of the Mtentu bridge is technically demanding and requires compliance with the most stringent international engineering and safety standards.  There is zero margin for disruptions . . .

“With so much at stake, the ability to execute works safely and in accordance with international best practice is, and must be, the primary concern. This represents a core value of both organisations in the joint venture.

“The Aveng Strabag JV cannot resume the execution of the works in these circumstances . . . and is not disposed to risk the safety and wellbeing of its employees, and indeed the members of the community . . .”

The Europe-based Strabag group has referred all enquiries to Sanral.

McLachlan has said that Sanral has not received notice of the termination of the Mtentu contract from the JV.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Aveng Strabag joint venture (Mtentu bridge contract).

On Budget and on Time?
As at January 29, 2019, the Mtentu bridge project was about six months behind schedule.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sanral project manager Craig Mclachlan, tel +27 41398 3215 or email MclachlanC@nra.co.za or for technical aspects Sanral bridge network manager Edwin Kruger, tel +27 12 844 8038 or email krugere@nra.co.za.