The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) is calling for tender submissions for the construction of the Mabunyaneng and Khubelu bridges under Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).

The tenders, which interested construction firms have until February 17, 2022, to submit, mark the last step in the procurement of Phase II major works construction, said LHDA Phase II divisional manager Ntsoli Maiketso.

This followed the advertisement of the tender for the biggest of the three Phase II major bridges, the Senqu River Bridge, in March.

“Procurement for the construction of the two bridges construction also follows the start of the Polihali transfer tunnel and Polihali dam construction tenders in May and August, respectively,” the LHDA said in a statement on October 21.

“Each of these tenders is another step on LHDA’s journey to deliver Phase II of the LHWP on behalf of the governments of Lesotho and South Africa and to advancing the economies of our two countries.”

The new Khubelu and Mabunyaneng River bridges will be located upstream of the two existing bridges along the A1 road to provide access to Mokhotlong town across the Polihali reservoir even at full supply.

The Khubelu Bridge is estimated to be 270 m in length with nine 30 m spans and two abutments, while the Mabunyaneng Bridge, the smallest of the three major bridges, will be about 120 m long and has four 30 m spans and two abutments.

The bridges will both be 13.55 m wide.

A section of the A1 road will be realigned to link the two bridges.

The construction of the major bridges will be carried out under two separate contracts, namely LHDA Contract 4019A for the Senqu River Bridge and LHDA Contract 4019B for the Mabunyaneng River Bridge and the Khubelu River Bridge.

The three major bridges were designed by Zutari which will also supervise their construction.