SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY THE
Civil Engineer in Port Elizabeth

At SANRAL we endeavour to enhance your travel experience and improve and maintain the national road network for the social development and economic growth of South Africa. These awards are a way of celebrating excellence in the transport engineering world. SANRAL was in more ways than one a prominent feature of the awards. Regional growth depends on high-quality road network The successful delivery of mega housing projects and substantial investments in tourism as the engine room for growth in Gauteng will be largely dependent on the quality of the province’s road infrastructure. New Wild Coast mega-bridges to break global records An essential part of Sanral’s N2 Wild Coast Toll Road project is the construction of two record-breaking mega-bridges over local rivers. One will become the highest bridge in the southern hemisphere, and the other possibly the longest cable-stayed suspension bridge in Africa. The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) is making sure there is a focus on pedestrians and cyclists. The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited’s pursuit for innovative ways to make travelling a pleasure are evident in. Bridges have fascinated people through the centuries; their purpose is self-evident as being the link between transportation routes be they footpaths, railways or roads. Although its primary purpose is functional and it must be safe to use, a bridge can be a thing of beauty. Apart from making a major contribution to transport infrastructure and to the well-being of the people who live along the new Greenfields portion of N2 which is about 113km in length, the bridges will be true landmarks of international note. In searching for safe and economical designs Sanral has also driven the need for aesthetic designs that will act as positive landmarks for the new highway. The designs of the bridges are complete and tenders have been invited. At no stage will work be done in the gorge and the deck will be cantilevered out from the banks using conventional construction techniques. The bridge is 190m above the river and the bridge erection team will undoubtedly presented with some challenging weather conditions. The two piers supporting the balanced cantilever portion of the deck will be 154m high and the bridge will be a wholly prestressed concrete bridge with an overall width of 20.1m. This bridge will be one of only a few such large concrete balanced cantilever bridges with spans of 260m or more in the world. The bridges and the overall highway project will be a catalyst for local development, bringing direct and indirect business opportunities, boosting small and medium enterprises while connecting local communities with each other as well as bigger towns along the road. Both structures with their clean, functional lines are also expected to become tourist attractions and will be complemented by the natural beauty of the area. Visitors who stop to view the bridges will also see the natural beauty of the valleys they cross. Pedestrian walkways with safety screens will be provided along both sides of each bridge and they will be fully accessible to allow everyone to view the magnificent valleys from the bridges. In addition viewing sites will be built nearby so that the public can view the bridges and admire the natural beauty of their settings. Durable concrete has been specified to minimise future maintenance and the design of the bridges followed South African bridge design codes which have their basis in international codes. The construction of these two new bridges and the Greenfields section of the highway will bring economic benefits to the Eastern Cape as well as the transport benefits from reducing the travel distance between the major cities of Durban and East London by 75km. This will bring benefits to the local economy as well as the national economy and major tourist destinations will be more easily accessible.