Nhaca launches R29 million reconstruction project

Community welcomes rebuilding of damaged bridge

KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca has on Monday this week officially launched a massive R29 million project to rebuild the Hulett Bridge in Ward 02, Darnall, which was destroyed by floods in April last year.

The Hulett Bridge plays a significant role in this community as it is a conduit to reach local schools, the library and the clinic. Since the bridge's destruction, residents of Zamani, Soweto and Barracks have been struggling to get across, being forced to use roundabout detours regardless of the urgency of the trip.

As a result of the prolonged travel, there's information that some elderly citizens ended up defaulting in keeping to their clinic visit schedule, and some school-going children endanger themselves by trying to cross the Nonoti River at times using makeshift materials.

During the sod-turning ceremony, Mayor Nhaca presented the project consultants, Vuba Imagineers (Pty) Ltd, and project contractor, Benjivert (Pty) Ltd. Nhaca explained the cost breakdown that makes up the R29 million, mentioning that R3,5 million inclusive of VAT would go towards Professional Fees and R25,6 million would go towards construction costs.

The project will entail reinforced concrete bridge measuring 10.75m wide and 50m total length. The bridge components comprise foundations, abutments, wing walls, piers, deck slab, approach slab and parapets.

It will also feature mass excavations in fractured rock for bridge foundations, and approach road construction on either side of the bridge with a total length of 300m and asphalt finish over a carriageway width of 7,8m.

Many other features will also be included, to ensure high quality workmanship and longevity of the infrastructure, once completed.

Nhaca appealed to the contractor to do all in their power to complete the project as speedily as possible to ensure that the lives of affected citizens are restored and the living condition improved.