01 Jun 2021

 The Mohembo bridge is designed to last for over 100 years.

Giving an update on the project to the parliamentary committee on communications, works, transport and technology on Saturday, project manager, Mr Kobamelo Kgoboko said the bridge would not require a lot of maintenance upon completion.

He said the first five years of the bridge would require regular maintenance and after that it would be periodic maintenance.

Mr Kgoboko encouraged Mohembo residents to take care of the bridge and desist from ills such as vandalism.

“People should drive with extra care when it comes to the cables since they are the main structures of the bridge,” he said.

The project manager also told the committee that the cumulative progress of the bridge works was about 93 per cent.

He noted that steel erection was 100 per cent complete, stay cable installation 100 per cent complete and that the bridge deck was 94 per cent complete.

Mr Kgoboko, however, noted that road works were still behind. He said the approach road was 51.3 per cent complete, and that the expected completion date of the project was October 2021.

As for the project progress, he said some of the reasons for the backlog in progress was the delayed installation of the deck reinforcement from tower one to tower two. He also noted that there was a delay to start the concrete casting for cable stay and right approach bridges.

He also highlighted that the slow rate of progress on the approach road was due to rains in 2020 and 2021.

For historic challenges on the project, Mr Kgoboko cited the delayed start and slow rate of substructure works and delayed acquisition of permits for borrow pits.

“Delayed expropriation of fields, an area for the construction of the project camp was also a challenge. The area was availed in February 2017,” he said.

Other challenges, he said, were finalisation of the alternative design which took longer than expected, and completion of additional geotechnical investigations which also took longer than expected.

On the issue of extension and costs, Mr Kgoboko said the project exceeded by 15 months.

He, however, noted that the 15 months did not mean  extra money. 

One member of the committee, Mr Thapelo Letsholo had wanted to know about the extra costs.

Mr Kgoboko said one month could cost P4 million, but that it did not mean that each of the 15 months the contractor was entitled to the P4 million.

Chairperson of the parliamentary committee on communications, works, transport and technology, Mr Aubrey Lesaso commended the project manager, saying he was happy with the project progress.

He noted that upon completion of the bridge, those in the logistics business would access markets in other countries such as Namibia and Zambia.

Mr Lesaso also said with the bridge at Mohembo, more people and hotels were coming to Shakawe, hence more economic activities.ends