Question NW2786 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
15 December 2017 - NW2786
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
With regard to the closing of the bridges in (a) Central Avenue, (b) Van Riebeeck Avenue, (c) 4th Avenue and (d) 1st Avenue in Edenvale in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, (i) what assessment of the structural damage to each specified bridge has been completed, (ii) what were the findings of each assessment, (iii) what will the cost be to rehabilitate each bridge and (iv) by what date (aa) does the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality intend to start repairing each bridge and (bb) will each bridge be re-opened?
Reply:
The response from Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is narrated underneath:
The Municipality appointed consultants to investigate the bridges. They had submitted the report to the Municipality. The answers are based on the report and Municipal comments.
(a) Central Avenue
The bridge was not closed. Visual inspections by the relevant department of the municipality indicated that it appeared to be stable enough to allow traffic through it. This was confirmed by the appointed Consultants.
(b) Van Riebeeck Avenue
The bridge was not closed. Visual inspections by the relevant department of the municipality indicated that it appeared to be stable enough to allow traffic through it. This was confirmed by the appointed Consultants.
(c) 4th Avenue
The bridge was not closed. Visual inspections by the relevant department of the municipality indicated that it appeared to be stable enough to allow traffic through it. This was confirmed by the appointed Consultants.
(d) 1st Avenue in Edenvale
This was the only bridge that was closed as the visual inspection indicated damage to the deck overlay. It is a small bridge constructed with culverts, which is the reason for closing the bridge until it could be certified as stable/ safe by specialist consultant. However, the bridge was opened for traffic after getting certification from the consultant.
(i) The appointed consultant assessed the stability and safety of the mentioned bridges for any movement/ displacement that could have taken place. They checked the stability of the abutments, floor slabs, approach roads and discharge/ downstream apron slabs. They also checked the extent of the erosion of the embankments and any movement/ damage to the decks/ overlays.
(ii) The consultant’s finding confirmed that all the bridges were structurally stable. They recommended that the upstream and downstream embankments require extensive rehabilitation due to the erosion and/ or flood damage to the areas around the wing walls.
(iii) The estimated costs for the remedial measure or to rehabilitate the bridges are as bellow:
(a) Central Avenue bridge: R 63 000 000.00 (it may vary depending on which design option is acceptable to the Consultants and Department of Water and Sanitation)
(b) Van Riebeeck Avenue bridge : R 300 000.00
(c)4th Avenue bridge/canal: R 5 600 000.00
(d) 1st Avenue bridge: R 800 000.00
(iv) The process has already been started. In order to execute the remedial measures designed by Specialist Consultants, approval from GDARD and Department of Water and Sanitation is required. These approvals and authorization requests have been submitted and approval is awaited.
(aa) Yes it does. The process has already been started. The municipality is awaiting the approvals and authorization of the design requests have been submitted and approval is awaited form GDARD and Department of Water and Sanitation.
(bb) All the bridges have been declared stable and have been open for traffic for quite some time now.