This past
week, the Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba and the MMC for Transport, Cllr
Nonhlanhla Makhuba took a tour with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) for an
update on the rehabilitation of the M2 Motorway Bridges (Selby and Kaserne
Bridges).
On the 24th and 25th of August 2018 the JRA implemented the closure of the M2:
Kaserne East-bound carriageway.
This was after a series of site inspections by a team of Professional Engineers
as well as JRA personnel which clearly indicated that the bridge deterioration
has accelerated due to continual vehicular use. Subsequently, a series of
monitoring reports confirmed the continuous deterioration of the load carrying
capacity of the structure. The summer rains worsened things.
There were also substantial vibrations due to heavy traffic. The JRA could no
longer guarantee the safety of the public, and the decision to completely
remove the traffic off the M2 Motorway between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg
Street was taken on 28 February 2019.
- First, the demolition of the failed bridge structural elements at Selby Bridge has been completed and the reconstruction of new elements has commenced.
- Second, the demolition of the collapse bridge deck and joints at Kaserne has also been completed and reconstruction is currently underway.
- Lastly, the budget that was allocated for this project during the 2018/19 financial year has been fully utilised.
- The estimated construction cost to address all the issues identified through the assessment report is approximately R 739 million.
- Work is still envisaged to be completed by the end of October 2019. https://www.joburg.org.za/media_/Pages/Media/Mayoral%20Newsletter/Mashaba%20On%20Point%20July%202019/Mashaba%20on%20Point%2026%20July/July%2026%20stories/City-provides-update-on-M2-Bridge-rehabilitation-progress.aspx
