2 new megabridges being built in South Africa

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02-02-2026
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Two new megabridge projects are under construction in the Eastern Cape.

The two bridges are a major part of the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) N2 Wild Coast project, which intends to create a new, safer, and shorter main route through the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast region from East London to KwaZulu-Natal.

Last November, Eastern Cape premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane spoke about the project’s progress during an investment conference with delegates regarding development on the eastern seaboard’s development.

“The N2 Wild Coast Highway is a foundational enabler of economic transformation along this corridor,” he said.

“The Mtentu and Msikaba Bridges, together with the full N2 upgrade, open unprecedented opportunities for logistics, freight efficiency, tourism expansion, and investment into previously isolated coastal areas.”

The two megabridges are expected to cost R5.8 billion and have run into several issues since construction began in 2017, leading to multiple delays.

The Mtentu Bridge was originally supposed to cost R1.6 billion. However, the construction company hired for the job walked in early 2019 after months of violent protests from the local communities.

While the project employed local workers, it did not have enough available jobs for all the locals, resulting in violent incidents where workers and management were threatened by protestors with assault rifles.

The contract, which ballooned to R4.05 billion, was then awarded to the China Communications Construction Company and Mota-Engil Construction South Africa in a joint venture in November 2022.

Work on the site started on 5 August 2023, and the bridge is now expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

As for the Msikaba Bridge, its contract is valued at R1.75 billion – a portion of which has been allocated for local labour and sub-contracting to targeted enterprises.

It was originally meant to be completed in 2025, but is still under construction and is only expected to open in late 2026, if not later.

A major issue the N2 Wild Coast project has encountered concerns so-called “construction mafias” – criminal groups demanding a sizeable cut of the project’s funds while resorting to threats and intimidation tactics.

These groups have plagued several infrastructure developments around the country, prompting the government to deploy the army to protect workers.

Marvels of engineering

While the bridges have run into problems during their construction, both are expected to be incredible feats of engineering upon their completion.

The 580m-long Msikaba Bridge, which spans the Msikaba gorge and river near the town of Lusikisiki, will be the longest suspension bridge in South Africa, forming part of a new route that will significant reduce travel times for motorists.

Right now, all road users need to follow an 80km inland diversion passing Kokstad.

The bridge uses a pair of 127m-tall inverted Y-shaped pylons, which serve as the anchors for the cables that will support the final structure.

The project encountered delays due to a lack of cable in the local market, which have had to be imported from overseas suppliers.

The Mtentu Bridge, meanwhile, is set to become the tallest bridge on the continent when it is finished at a peak of 223 metres.

It will also be one of the longest main-span balanced cantilever bridges in the world, measuring 260m from end to end.