D-Day for opening of Bloemfontein bridge and road

Road closure signs have earlier been thrown over at one the slipways that leads up to the bridge in the south of Bloemfontein.

15-05-2023
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It is almost two years since motorists in Bloemfontein were not able to make use of the Vereeniging Bridge and road. The acting Executive Mayor of Mangaung Metro Municipality will officially open the bridge and road.

The bridge and road were closed to allow for contractors to do repairs. This has, however, led to residents signing petitions as they felt the construction was taking forever. The cry has been heard by the municipality, as the road will be opened on Friday.

The Acting Executive Mayor, Gregory Nthatisi, will be opening the road for public use. The metro began with the construction of the bridge and an extension of Vereeniging Road in May 2021. It now connects the southern parts of Bloemfontein to Oliver Tambo Road directly.

The news of the construction was received with mixed feelings by residents, as they had to reroute when travelling to work. It was after the metro missed the first deadline when Councilor David McKay started the petition.

Bloemfontein Courant reported that he alleged subcontractors had not been paid at least R12 million during August 2022. “They also say that once the municipality pays them, it will take them about a month as the road is only 80% completed. The road will then be accessible to the public in a stop-and-go manner, while they complete the rest of the road,” he says.

The petition gained momentum at the beginning of 2023. McKay called on the community to sign a petition to force the metro to open the road by 15 February 2023. “Currently, 92% of the road has been completed and Centlec has installed the streetlights required by law before a dual carriageway may be opened. There is thus no longer any reason why the road cannot be completed and reopened before the middle of February.”

He says this road is a main artery to the Hamilton industrial area and vital to the metro’s economy. It is the main connection between the south-eastern and south-western suburbs of Bloemfontein.

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