A bridge too far for N2 contractor

Safety threats, violent protests and financial instability are reportedly the cause of delays in the multi-billion rand Wild Coast N2 project, with contractors abandoning the site citing safety concerns.

Construction of the R1.65-billion project came to a halt in October last year, apparently due to community unrest and protests over demands made against the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), prompting the appointed service providers to pull out of the project.

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On Tuesday this week, Sanral confirmed that Aveng Strabag Joint Venture (ASJV) had left the construction site of one of the mega bridges, citing unsafe working conditions although Sanral said it had done everything necessary to ensure that it was safe for the contractor to return to site.

Aveng Grinaker, in a joint venture with Australian firm Strabag International, announced on Monday this week that it had cut ties with Sanral and would no longer be building the 1.1km bridge across Mtentu River.

Aveng disagreed with Sanral that it was safe to continue with the construction because, it said, related events did not support Sanral’s view.

“The ability to execute work safety and in line with international best practice is the joint venture’s primary concern. Sanral was informed of the decision to terminate the contract last Wednesday,” Aveng said.

The companies added that the construction of the bridge was technically demanding and required compliance with stringent international engineering and safety standards.

Sanral spokesman, Vusi Mona said the agency had held numerous negotiations with all affected stakeholders to find a solution to the problem and ensure the resumption of the project.

“A process to resolve all issues was agreed upon and it was resolved that progress on the bridge construction would resume unhindered from January 14, 2019.”

According to Mr Mona, Sanral had been engaging with ASJV to return to site and resume work since the beginning of 2019.

“Sanral feels the contractor is not being transparent about its true reasons for abandoning site,” he said.

Meanwhile community members affected by the project said they were very unhappy with Sanral and the appointed service providers for many reasons, including being sidelined.

Some, including the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC), had suggested that the project was just a ploy to push mining in the Xolobeni area.

The ACC felt the coastal N2 only served as ‘support for the Xolobeni open cast mining disaster on the Wild Coast’.

In a statement the ACC said its lawyers had sent Sanral a letter asking for an end to all works along the green field section of the N2 toll road, with immediate effect.

The group wants Sanral to start over with a proper consultation process with all communities affected by the project.

Sanral also said it planned to pursue investigations relating to the conduct of the contractor, based on allegations made by the community in their petitions.

“Sanral will do everything in its power to protect its interest in relation to the termination of the contract and engage national treasury to find the quickest way to restore works on site.”

In addition, Sanral said it regretted the delays and costs that would result from the ‘abandonment of the project’ by the contractor.

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