The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says construction will start on the Msikaba and Mtentu river bridges, on the N2 Wild Coast Toll road, early next year.

The agency has concluded a two-day briefing session with prequalified bidders and site visit for the Msikaba and Mtentu bridges in the Eastern Cape and will announce the successful incumbents towards the end of the year.

The Msikaba river bridge will comprise a cable-stayed 580-m-long structure spanning a deep gorge, while the Mtentu river bridge, also on the N2 Wild Coast Toll road and around 12 km to the north of Msikaba river, is expected to be a 1 130-m-long concrete structure.

It will comprise a 260 m main span built as a balanced cantilever with main piers about 160 m high, plus approach viaducts built using incremental launching methods.

Sanral project manager Craig McLachlan says the agency met with six prequalified consortia.

"These tender briefings are typical for all major infrastructure projects and allow potential bidders to be briefed on the tender document, to visit the site first hand to familiarise themselves with conditions on the ground and most importantly to ask questions of clarity or for additional information," he adds.

McLachlan says that prequalified bidders will now be required to prepare their tender proposal documents. Owing to the size and complexity of the two bridges, the prequalified bidders have been given an extension for their proposals.

"The size and complexity of the two bridges are beyond anything built previously in Southern Africa. Accordingly, all of the prequalified bidders are consortiums of major South African and international contractors with relevant bridge building experience.

“However, each tender will also have contractor participation goals to ensure meaningful participation by local labour and small- and medium-sized enterprises,” he says.