Construction teams have begun urgent repair work on the Umbogintwini River bridge along the N2 highway in KwaZulu-Natal following a partial collapse earlier this month.
The incident led to a significant disruption in traffic as a section of the busy highway was closed for safety.
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) reported that specialist engineers immediately visited the site to assess the damage and determine the necessary remedial actions.
To mitigate the immediate impact, hydraulic jacks will be used to lift the bridge deck back to level with the other decks.
This temporary solution will allow the road to be reopened to traffic once completed.
Sanral stated that emergency repairs are already underway, with expectations to complete the temporary fix by early December 2024.
Following this, the repair work will progress in phases, with the second phase set to begin early next year.
This phase will focus on installing more permanent structures, while the third phase, scheduled for the second quarter of 2025, will tie into broader upgrade projects for the N2.
In addition to the bridge repairs, Sanral confirmed that the N2 between Moss Kolnik Drive and Isipingo will undergo an estimated R5 billion upgrade, which includes the modernization of the bridge structure.
This major upgrade, set to be awarded in the first quarter of 2025, will see the stretch of road expanded to a four- or five-lane carriageway, improving traffic flow and safety for years to come.