The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has completed the southern section of the Modderfontein bridge project following an extensive period of rehabilitation and modernisation. 

The upstream gabion works installed on the south bridge single cell have been extended and are now open and in use, relieving some of the past congestion from when the project started.

The JDA is the infrastructure arm of the City of Johannesburg. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) appointed the JDA to rehabilitate the Modderfontein bridge, east of Johannesburg.

The rehabilitation was intended to address critical structural issues and ensure the bridge's continued safety and functionality. The rehabilitation was for critical structural issues and for the bridge to be safe and functional.

The need for the bridge project arose from the need to increase the cell capacity to accommodate the river flowing below. There have been previous incidents where the river would overflow onto the bridge deck, damaging the infrastructure.

Modderfontein road is a critical artery that connects the Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metropolitans and its bridge, within Region E, lies northeast through the suburb of Sandringham, crossing the Jukskei river and bypassing Edenvale Hospital.

The reopening of the southern section of the bridge comes as a relief to the local community, businesses and commuters who have faced challenges and inconveniences during the construction period.

The remaining works on the project will include the balance of gabion works between the bridges and downstream of the river. The northern section of the bridge has been closed off to commence with the north bridge works.

The implementation of the project has undergone many challenges. Owing to performance challenges that were faced on the project by the current contractor, the JDA terminated the current contractor.

The current status of the project will see the JDA closing out the termination process with the current contractor. The project will be returning back to the JRA as the custodians of the project to source another contractor to complete the project. 

“This project has had various challenges in the past that have delayed its implementation. We are on track. We apologise to the communities affected for the inconvenience caused,” JDA executive manager of project implementation Siyabonga Genu explained.

In the interim, the JDA is assessing the current site and traffic flow to minimise traffic impact and ensure the safety of the public. Further communication on the project will run through the JRA once a new contractor is appointed.

The extent of civil works includes proving and relocation of services; excavation; the northern bridge single cell construction; the southern bridge single cell construction; bridge concrete barriers; stormwater pipe culverts, structures and V-drains; gabion baskets and mattresses for erosion protection; backfilling; road layer works;  asphalting; road furniture; and the removal of temporary traffic diversion facility.

“The safety of the travelling public and all affected parties remains of utmost importance to us. The traffic and pedestrian management plans will remain in place to ensure the safety of the public and motorists,” Genu said.