GEORGE NEWS - Work on the N2 Gwaiing River bridge resumed on 9 September, six months after the project was stopped due to financial difficulties of the contractor, KPMM Roads and Earthworks.
The bridge is being widened. Randall Cable, SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) Western Region manager, said the anticipated completion date of July 2020 is likely to be extended by four months. Cable gave the assurance that the delay will not result in additional construction costs for the taxpayer. The original contract value was about R170-million.
"The project involves the construction of a new four-span river crossing bridge on pillars, supported on both spread footings and piles, all constructed with reinforced concrete. The deck type is a continuous two-cell concrete box girder, with cantilevers," he said.
The bridge support structure is nearly complete and the contractor is currently constructing the bridge deck segments or superstructure.
The bridge structure being built is about 80 metres long and about 15,7 metres wide. Work will also be done on about 3km of approach roads to the bridge.
The new bridge will carry traffic in an easterly direction. Cable said recent traffic counts indicate a total of about 14 000 vehicles per day, in both directions.
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