Fifteen-month-long traffic struggle comes to an end as N2 Umhlali River bridge reopens

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02-08-2023
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North Coast Courier
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Years of debris build-up from chopped trees for example, is believed to have contributed significantly to the damaging force of the flood waters of April 2022.

The opening of the N2 Umhlali River northbound bridge on Sunday finally brought to an end 15 months of extreme frustration for North Coast commuters.

No longer forced into long travel delays by bumper-to-bumper crawling, the opening of this crucial economic artery has also been welcomed by the commercial sector.

For nine months since the bridge was damaged and closed during last year’s April floods, repair work remained dormant, until February when the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) finally appointed contractor DT Mlangeni Projects for the R37-million repair project.

Officiating at the official opening, Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga highlighted the importance of traffic flow now being freed up on this import and export freight corridor.

She said it served as testament to the hard work put in by Sanral to ensure the bridge was opened in less than 18 months.

Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga cuts the ribbon, signalling the opening of the northbound N2 Umhlali River bridge on Sunday.

“I would like to thank Sanral and its contractors, the provincial and local roads authorities, and especially the community and businesses who played their part. I would like to thank motorists for their patience and understanding,” she said.

iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CEO, Cobus Oelofse, said the return of free-flowing traffic will remove a significant burden for the business sector, on both the southern and northern sides of the district.

He said with the additional ad hoc closures of the road owing to accidents, the past 15 months had been characterised by significant delays and disruption to freight and logistics because the road serves as the only means of goods transport.

“The business community looks forward to the return of normal freight schedules and fewer road user frustration,” said Oelofse.

Sanral CEO Reginald Demana said the reopening of the bridge was significant as it again allowed for the free movement of traffic in and out of the main economic centres of Ballito, Umhlanga and Durban.

The opening of northbound lanes brought an end to 15 months of bottleneck frustration for motorists.

“Immense disruptions were caused to the lives of the local communities. The reopening of the bridge ushers in a new period of normality,” said Demana.

About 150 jobs will now be created by a project to keep the Umhlali River clear of debris. Years of debris build-up from chopped trees for example, is believed to have contributed significantly to the damaging force of the flood waters of April 2022.

Salt Rock ward councillor Privi Makhan said the entire project created 200 local jobs.

“With unemployment being the single largest threat to the future of young people, temporary employment opportunities play a crucial role in the provision of basics to the lives of the youth,” she said, urging contractors within KwaDukuza’s municipal jurisdiction to ensure opportunities for local people are prioritised and in line with their contractual obligations.

This week the concrete dividers on the southbound lane were in the process of being removed and should be cleared by the weekend.

More positive news is that repair work on the Tongaat River bridge on the M4 is also about to get underway.

Repair of the Tongaat River bridge on the M4 is set to get underway as the contractor is busy setting up shop.

Contractor Empa Structures, a subsidiary of the Raubex Group, has been setting up their construction site at the bridge since last week.

The value of the project is R54-million and it is anticipated to be complete by the end of November.