HIGHWAY HAPPINESS

 

October 27, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	HIGHWAY HAPPINESS Dave Savides INITIAL fears of a completed John Ross Highway minus a black-top surface come the soccer World Cup, have been allayed. Latest progress reports have it that the highway will be completed, including tarring, by June 2010, just in time for the world's greatest sport extravaganza. At a meeting of the Project Liaison Committee on Thursday, the timetable was announced for the completion of the entire section from the N2 to Arboretum. It will be divided into two contracts, enabling both a speedier construction time, as well as the opportunity for more use of smaller contractors. The R160-million contract for the section from the Mondi robots to Arboretum goes to tender in November and workers could be on site as early as March next year. The section from the N2 to the Mondi robots goes to tender in February, at a value of R70-million. The funds for both tenders are expected to be confirmed next month and both sections should be completed within 15 months. Expectation is that work on the Empangeni Rail bridge section will commence in July next year. Bridge too far In the meantime, work is steadily progressing on the 'flood proof' bridge section between the N2 and the eSikhaleni robots. The formidable challenges of piling through 60m of clay are now over and construction in-situ of the 900m flood plain bridge is well underway. Pre-stressed with cables, this comprises 28 spans of 34m each, built outwards from the centre in four sections. The 300m long Nsezi Bridge as well as the eSikhaleni interchange are also on track, with completion of all bridge work including surfaces scheduled for September 2009. Despite the dangerous nature of the bridge construction and piling, no disabling injuries have been recorded.