NOT GOOD ENOUGH (AGAIN) – SAND RIVER BRIDGE
How long does it take to build a simple three cell box culvert over the Sand River? Well if you employ EMPA as contractors and BVI as consulting engineers, it appears one inordinate amount of time.
Unmaintained approaches to the bridge.
We are now into May 2018 and there is no end in sight for the inconvenience these firms are putting the St Francis public through. They appear to have little consideration for the travelling public. The temporary approaches to the structure are very seldom maintained and are in appalling condition. I would hate to see what would happen if we had decent rain.
It was very interesting to see that the base to the culvert was only completed last week and the one wing wall is still not complete. Then they have had the problem with the finished level of the top of the culvert (who messed up? The contractor or the consulting engineer?). This was not a minor problem, it looks like someone messed up the level by around 300mm necessitating a topping being put on the deck and the vehicle barrier having to be raised.
The site is generally a mess, housekeeping does not appear to be high on their priority list. It is hoped that they will remove all the
thousands of sugar bags that have been filled with gusto. (This has been the most noticeable activity on site) One does not want to see these washed into the Kromme when then Sand River does again eventually flow.
It would be great if someone showed some urgency in getting the project completed, but no, long weekends are regularly taken and the completion date gets put out further and further.
Please, let’s see some action and get this thing finished. Unfortunately, you have not endeared yourselves to the St Francis residents and your departure after the ultimate completion will be welcomed.
ST FRANCIS DEFINITELY DESERVED BETTER.
Correcting the levels on the deck
Foundation eventually finished, wing wall still to be completed.
Article by Garth Perry
Cape St Francis
Join the conversation
I agree with Garth 100% !
So …. follow the money trail – I find it very hard to believe that the contractor EMPA could possibly be making any profit on this project the way they have been carrying on – what’s going on here ? – are they being paid according the time spent on site ? – surely not !? – and if not, how are they keeping going without making a huge loss ?
Alternately, was the tender price so comfortable as to be able to accommodate the way the work is being carried out ?
If there have been mistakes, who paid to put them right ?
Surely it is now about time for the Roads Department, who appointed EMPA, to give long-suffering St Francis, and the long-suffering taxpayers, some explanations. And at the same time , tell us when the bridge will be finished !
Maybe the sugar/sand bags can be used for the spit, thus preventing more silting of the river
Could we have an educated reply to the following questions please:
(1) What should a reasonable budget be to construct such a bridge?
(2) What will the cost of this bridge finally be?
(3) How long should it take to construct such a bridge?
(4) How long will it take these contractors to complete the job?
The few workers seen when crossing the bridge never seem to be really working, just strolling around. (That’s the impression). And why not remove all those PESKY STRIPS?? Maybe keep the two outer ones and remove the inner strips. We fear for our car tyres as these strips are now worn and very uneven.
Ek het my verwonder aan die brugbouery. Dit sou vinniger gegaan het om eers ‘n ander tydelike brug te maak en die nuwe brug in geheel te bou. Die tydelike brue het ‘n paar dae geneem om te bou in die verlede. Die verskillende hoogtes van die twee helftes is nogal opsigtelik.
Re the bridge over Sand River, I have a meeting with the site manager of EMPA this afternoon. I have asked Colin Watt from St Francis Today to join me so that he can update his readers. I will also post a response on the St Francis Property Owners’ Facebook page and the monthly newsletter. The last information I had was that the bridge is due for completion in July. There will be some inconvenience to motorists in about a week’s time when they begin tarring the surface of the bridge as well as preparing the access the access on either side for tarring.
As a consulting engineer myself I have taken the trouble to phone BVI and discuss the project with Francois van Graan, the project engineer. The contract is scheduled for completion in July 2018. The contractor is on schedule for a timeous completion. The budget for the contract will not be exceeded-in fact there is a 9% saving anticipated.
The roads subcontractor for the approaches will be commencing on site in 7 to 14 days and we can expect the pesky speedhumps (put there on instruction from Health and Safety and the Client, after a few St Francis residents/visitors ended up in the river) should be a thing of the past in early June 2018.
I totally agree.
Am I correct that the Van Stadens bridge was completed in four years.
I would like comments on the road from Humansdorp to the cape St Francis light house that had the potholes filled,thereafter the road not being re surfaced but spray painted.
The paint is gone and the potholes are coming back.
There needs to be a full investigation of who got paid off to to to accept this scam.
I fully agree with earlier comments. What was the original contract period and price? What has now been expended so far and expected in total plus what time extensions have been agreed to and why and at what additional costs to all tax payers?Why is there no formal feedback to the local road users by the contractor or roads authorities publishing some responses in a local newsletter or news service?
I agree whole heartedly!Surely there is a tender document in place that affords us tax payers all the details we are asking for? We live in Johannesburg, and go to St. Francis approximately every three months, and see no progress what so ever. We have just returned from there, and during our stay saw the same five construction workers doing nothing every day, but standing talking and peering over the edge of the bridge. It became a family joke every time we passed by!
Come on St Francis, we deserve better than this, and certainly more accountability from the authorities involved with the project!
Two questions: 1. Was the bridge not built too low?? Because of strong winds there was allways lots of sand on and under the bridge. It could be burried under sand and we will have the same problems as before! When the rain comes water will flow allover the bridge!!! 2. Is the bridge not too short?? Storm woter will erode sand on the sides and leave the bridge in the middle of the river??!’
Hennie – are your serious or just stirring the pot? The latter, I think.
Today when I drove across the bridge, I wondered how many are as angry as I am about the total waste of time and money – seems there are many of us! For a once in a 100 year flood, this bridge is certainly overkill and I, like my staff, wonder how many homes/ schools/hospitals, could have been built instead.
It is alleged that the bridge was overbuilt in order to carry extraordinary weights which would have been needed if the Thuyspunt Nuclear Power Station was to be built. I have heard that a highly experienced civil engineer remarked that it appears to be excessively strengthened. It would be interesting to find out what the bridge’s load specifications are.