R20m bridge taking too long



08-10-2015
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The Sowetan
Source

WORK at the R20-million Matlosana pedestrian bridge in Klerksdorp has stalled because of damage to the centre beam.

The centre beam of the bridge was supposed to be lifted over the N12 highway to connect both sides of the bridge last month.

The bridge, a social investment, is meant to link the townships of Jouberton and Alabama.

In September the City of Matlosana municipality announced in the local newspaper, Klerksdorp Record, that the stretch of the N12 highway between Alabama and Jouberton would be closed on the weekend of September 11-13.

It explained that the centre beam had to be lifted over the highway to connect both sides of the bridge.

Sowetan understands that the bridge was supposed to have been completed in April.

The construction of the first pedestrian bridge over the N12 in Klerksdorp was started in November 2014.

Municipal spokeswoman Ntswaki Makgetha refuted claims that the project was incomplete because of non-payment to the contractor.

“The last payment made to the contractor regarding the construction of the bridge was on 15 June 2015,” she said.

Makgetha said that the bridge was not connected in September because the centre beam was partially damaged during the lifting process.

“The municipality is still waiting for technical reports on whether to connect the beam as it is or to first fix it,” said Makgetha.

Residents of Extension 19 in Jouberton claim the bridge is built closest to the Tower Mall and will only benefit shoppers, and not majority of the pedestrians who seek to cross the busy highway.

“Regarding the position of the pedestrian bridge, it must be noted that the concerned road (N12) belongs to Sanral (South African National Roads Agency) in the affected area,” Makgetha said.

Sanral’s Willem van der Merwe said the City of Matlosana financed the design and construction of the pedestrian bridge.

A Jouberton resident at Extension 19, Peter Mothibakgomo, said the bridge would only benefit shoppers not school children.

“The people who built the bridge did not get the right advice,” said Mothibakgomo said, without elaborating.

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