Msikaba bridge set for 2029 completion, despite Concor entering business rescue – Sanral

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) does not anticipate any further delays in the completion of the Msikaba megabridge project despite one of the partners in the joint venture (JV) tasked with constructing the bridge entering business rescue.

“Sanral can confirm that, following a meeting with creditors and other affected stakeholders that took place in October, the roads agency does not anticipate any delays in the projects’ completion time,” says Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela. ​​​​

“The expected completion date is April 9, 2029, and it is important to emphasise that construction of the project is not affected by the business rescue process.”

Mahlasela says the financially distressed Concor still forms part of the Mota-Engil Construction South Africa–Concor JV that is constructing the Msikaba bridge.

“The JV’s obligation to construct the Msikaba bridge remains in force. The JV is currently delivering on their contractual obligation to construct the bridge.”

Concor entered voluntary business rescue in October.

The company is currently 100% owned by the Government Employees Pension Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Concor’s former majority shareholder was the Southern Palace Group, which entered business rescue in 2022.

The Msikaba mega-bridge forms part of Sanral’s N2 Wild Coast road project, which entails the construction of a 410 km stretch of road from East London to the Mtamvuna river on the border of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Announced in 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the bridge project was originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.

The structure is a 580-m-long cable-stayed road bridge spanning the Msikaba river.

Once completed, the pylon spires of the bridge are set to tower almost 130 m high on each side of the nearly 200-m-deep river gorge.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter