Construction of R53m bridge announced to connect communities living in the areas of uMsinga and Nkandla
THE KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr. Willies Mchunu, has announced the construction of the much awaited river bridge that will connect the communities living in the areas of uMsinga and Nkandla.
The R53 million Khomfini/Tugela River Bridge will give a lifeline to the people of the two areas, who are currently forced to travel more than two hours to connect with one another.
Importantly, the bridge will also reduce the level of drowning in the area, and open access to important amenities such as schools, health facilities and shopping centres.
This life changing structure will be constructed over the period of 18 months and will create more than 30 direct job opportunities to local people and improve the socio-economic outlook of these rural communities.
Both Nkandla and uMsinga are among the most poverty stricken rural villages in the province. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has earmarked an investment of more than R1 billion to fast-track underway development of road infrastructure and create mobility in the UThungulu and Umzinyathi.
Addressing more than 3 000 community members during the official handing over of the contractor, MEC Mchunu was unapologetic in reaffirming the government’s commitment to developing rural communities.
“The legacy of poverty and inequality is physically visible in areas such as Nkandla and uMsinga. The ANC led government policy of prioritising development, including rolling out infrastructure development in rural areas, is correct and is being aggressively pursued. The construction of the R53 million bridge will mitigate many risks, including reducing the distance of more than two hours for the people who wish to move across,” said MEC Mchunu.
MEC Mchunu also expressed satisfaction that through the Department of Transport, the Province was moving fast with achieving the Provincial Growth and Development Plan – which, among others, emphasises the need for connecting small towns and rural communities to major corridors and scale up their participation in the mainstream economy.
Amongst mega roads and bridges projects that have been completed in the two municipalities (Nkandla and uMsinga), are:
• Construction of P15 in Kranskop at a cost of R313 million;
• Main road P50 in Nkandla at a cost of R308.4 million;
• Nsuze River Bridge at a cost of R3.5 million; and
• Main road P496 at a cost of R1.1 billion.
Additionally, among key projects that are currently under construction in uMsinga is the P16, which is more than 80 kilometres at a cost of R3 billion. They also include:
• Tulwane/ Tugela bridge at a cost of R40 million; and
• Road P230 linking eMpangeni and eShowe at a cost of R312 million.
Concluding his remarks, MEC Mchunu assured the community of KwaZulu-Natal that the government will continue investing in infrastructure, including revamping the old existing infrastructure to improve the provincial road network to boost economic development and growth.
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