Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Dr Ismail Vadi confirmed on Monday that there is “severe structural damage” to the East Road bridge that crosses the N12 freeway, near Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, posing a high risk to motorists using both East road and the N12 freeway below it.

The East Road overhead bridge, located close to the N12 Lenasia/Eldorado Park offramp, was badly damaged last Thursday when a heavily loaded truck carrying cargo exceeding the permissible height restrictions hit the top structure, resulting in “massive” traffic congestion on the freeway.

Vadi said three precast concrete beams had been severely damaged as a result of the accident, rendering “nearly half of the bridge completely unsafe”.

“This is yet another example of freight trucks not abiding by the load and height restrictions, causing untold damage to our road infrastructure and creating serious risks for other road users,” he stated.

The ‘Kliptown bridge’, as it was commonly known to local residents, was constructed in the 1960s and served as a critical link between Kliptown, Eldorado Park, Nancefield Industrial and the nearby informal settlements.

Vadi said the Provincial Department of Roads and Transport received an accident assessment report from a bridge engineer, who raised serious concerns about the structural safety of the bridge.

“Our primary concern right now is the safety of road users on the freeway and East road, as the bridge has been declared unsafe. The left lanes on East road and on the N12 will have to be closed until the bridge has been repaired,” he added.

This would, however, cause traffic congestion and inconvenience to motorists.

Vadi added that “stringent” speed restrictions would apply, as the N12 freeway from Eldorado Park to the North West boundary was currently undergoing rehabilitation that would continue for the next year.