Infrastructure
Msikaba Bridge Project Hits Key Milestone
On completion, it will be the third highest bridge in Africa.
The ongoing Msikaba Bridge project in Lusikisiki, South Africa, has hit a progress milestone following the jacking apart of the legs of the bridge’s south pylon.
According to the Msikaba Bridge project contractor Concor Mota-Engil Joint Venture (CMEJV), the jacking apart of the legs countered the bending moment at the bases of the cantilever legs.
“In layman’s terms, the jacking eradicated the effect of the legs bending towards each other; as engineers would see this, the legs are effectively vertical due to the jacking process,” says CMEJV project director Laurence Savage.
The two legs make up the first 20m of the inverted Y shaped pylon.
CMEJV, a partnership between Concor Construction and MECSA Construction, was in 2017 contracted by the South African National Roads Agency to erect the bridge at a cost of R1.65 billion excluding VAT.
Concor Construction is a black South African contractor while MECSA Construction is a Portuguese building company.
Msikaba Bridge design
The 580m stay cable bridge on the N2 toll road between Port Edward and Umtata comprises two pylons that will stand 128m tall on each side of the Msikaba gorge.
The pylons will support the bridge deck using a web of 34 cable tendons strung through their upper reaches.
“These cables then run from the top of the pylons back into anchor blocks located 100m to the rear of the respective pylons,” Savage said.
Each of the four anchor blocks, he added, is made up of over 1,600 tonnes of structural reinforced and mass concrete and cover 17m into the ground.
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On completion, four lanes of vehicles and pedestrian walkway on either side will pass underneath the legs.
Msikaba Bridge, whose construction has been in progress since May 2020, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
At 194 metres above the gorge’s floor, Msikaba Bridge will be the third highest bridge in Africa after the Bloukrans Bridge (216m) in Western Cape and Mtentu Bridge – a 223m bridge that is underway in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
FAQs
Where is Msikaba Bridge located?
Msikaba Bridge is located in Lusikisiki, a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Who built the Msikaba Bridge?
Concor Mota-Engil Joint Venture (CMEJV), a partnership between South African Concor Construction and Portuguese Mota-Engil, is building the Msikaba Bridge at a cost of R1.65 billion excluding VAT.
Why was Msikaba Bridge given its name?
The name Msikaba Bridge is derived from the gorge that it will traverse – the Msikaba gorge in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
How much will it cost to build Msikaba Bridge?
The cost of building Msikaba Bridge is estimated at R1.65 billion excluding VAT.
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