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

Location
The bridges will be built over the Msikaba river gorge, in Xolobeni, and the Mtentu river, 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 greenfields portion of the N2WCTR project – one of government’s 18 Strategic Integrated Projects.
The greenfield section of the N2WCTR extends from Port Edward through Port St Johns. 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 about 220 m, it will secure the title as the highest bridge in Southern Africa with its 217 m deck height.

The 580-m-long Msikaba bridge will be the longest-span cable-stayed suspension bridge in South Africa, and possibly in Africa. 
The cable-stayed design will ensure that the construction of the bridge will have no direct impact on the gorge environment 200 m below, which is one of the environ-mental 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.

Jobs to Be Created
Semiskilled and unskilled labour will be sourced locally.

Value
The bridges will cost R1.5-billion to R1.8-billion each and will be funded from Sanral’s nontoll portfolio.

Duration
Construction of the bridges is expected to start between August and October, and will take three to four years to build.

Latest Developments
This first phase of the project has already started with the construction of haul roads to the bridge sites.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sanral bridge network manager Edwin Kruger, tel +27 12 844 8038 or
email krugere@nra.co.za.