Work on N2 Gwaiing bridge standing still - again

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - For the second time, and under the second contractor, the work on the Gwaiing river bridge project on the N2 between George and Mossel Bay has come to a halt.

SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) Western Region manager Randall Cable confirmed that work on the site "all but came to a complete standstill" in the middle of May 2022.

"We are concerned and disappointed with this state of affairs given the history of this project, and our attempts to save the contract by means of a cession. Sanral together with its consulting engineers (Gibb) is currently addressing the matter with Mamlambo Construction.

"If it becomes clear that Mamlambo is unable to continue with the contract then Sanral will consider its options in terms of the contract and should there be no alternative, the current contract with Mamlambo Construction may be terminated. This will mean that the remaining works will go out on tender again," said Cable.

In response to a question from a concerned motorist about the motivation behind widening the bridge, Cable said it is to double the capacity of the bridge because it is servicing "a significant amount" of light and heavy-duty vehicle traffic.

Mamlambo Construction was appointed in December 2021 to take over from the original contractor, KPMM, that had run into financial difficulties. KPMM had been appointed in 2017 during Sanral's roll-out of the project.

Mamlambo Construction is also the contractor on the Maalgate bridge upgrading project (on the R102) for the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works. The works on this bridge have also come to a standstill, as reported yesterday.