Greymont bridge stuck in limbo

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25-04-2025
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Northcliff Melville Times
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A year after the promised completion dates, the Greymont Bridge remains untouched.

Repairs to the Greymont bridge, on West and 6th roads, remain stalled, nearly a year after Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) projected that construction would be completed.

Despite JRA’s commitment to begin construction by September 25, 2023, the project has yet to reach implementation stage. The bridge remains closed, leaving residents and motorists in Ward 86 frustrated by the prolonged delay and lack of progress.

JRA confirmed that while a detailed design report for the bridge has been completed, construction is still pending and subject to budget availability. The report has been handed over to the infrastructure development department, but no clear timeline has been provided for when physical repairs will begin.

The need for repairs stems from a 2023 condition assessment of the West Road culvert, which revealed extensive structural damage.

Acting head of infrastructure planning Khaya Gqibitole stated that the founding material of the culvert was severely eroded, starting in the middle of the carriageway and extending to the toe of the downstream apron slab. This erosion led to structural instability, including the suspension of the apron slab, overhanging wing walls, and embankment erosion.

Gqibitole noted that the volume of water during heavy rainfall further compromised the structure, making it unsafe for vehicular use. The bridge has remained closed since then.

According to JRA’s own project timeline, published in the Northcliff Melville Times (week ending May 23, 2023):

• Environmental authorisations were due between March 6 and August 31, 2023,
• Detailed designs were scheduled for completion by June 5, 2023,
• Documentation and contract administration by July 17, 2023, and
• Construction was initially set to begin in September 2023, and finish in May 2024.

Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe stated that the fixing of the Greymont bridge has reached crisis level. “The urgency is great. Especially since the integrity of the bridge just down the river is also being compromised. I understand that erosion due to storms is a natural occurrence which cannot be stopped, but the responsibility of the city is to mitigate where critical infrastructure is threatened, and act speedily when it is damaged.”

Shawe highlighted that they are now in the seventh year of patiently waiting for JRA to address the damage to this bridge. “It appears that the current administration does not consider it a priority, given that the budget to implement the project has, yet again, been removed. This, after progress was made a few years ago to start, with project designs and environmental inspections.”

The longer this project is not given the attention it deserves by the mayor, the more damage will continue, not only to the bridge, but also to the quality of life of the community, according to Shawe.

Now, with no construction underway and no confirmed start date, it remains uncertain when residents can expect the long-awaited repairs to commence.