The city of Johannesburg recently estimated that the repairs needed for the fire-damaged electrical infrastructure and concrete under the M1 highway bridge will cost over R30 million.
City Manager, Floyd Brink, along with officials from City Power and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), held a media briefing to update the public on the progress of the bridge repairs and electricity restoration.
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On May 1st, several parts of the city, including Braamfontein, experienced power outages after cables caught fire beneath the M1 Southbridge.
This incident was a result of theft and vandalism. As a safety measure, Smit Street, which runs under the bridge, had to be closed off. Brink revealed that approximately 450 meters of the 88kv electrical cables were affected by the fire.
City Power has been working diligently to restore power to Braamfontein and Newtown. The Fordsburg substation was also damaged but has since been repaired. However, the Braamfontein substation remains offline until repairs can be completed.
During the briefing, Brink mentioned that the JRA had identified structural damage to the M1 bridge. Despite the fire damage, the bridge had undergone an assessment in the 2018/2019 financial year and was deemed to be in good condition and safe for use.
However, as a precautionary measure, the city will be securing the concrete panels at the bridge with steel to prevent any potential danger of them falling onto Smith Street. Brink stated that this construction repair work would cost the JRA at least R10 million.
He also mentioned that a contractor had already been appointed for the job. Additionally, the city plans to conduct a thorough visual condition inspection, including lab testing, to assess the bridge’s structure. This inspection, estimated to cost around R10 million, will help determine any further repairs needed in the medium to long term.
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Brink expressed the city’s concerns about the “high level of sabotage” targeting its infrastructure. He emphasized that these incidents were not only causing financial strain but also requiring the city to reprioritise within its constrained budget to address these issues.
The city of Johannesburg urges both vehicles and pedestrians to avoid Smit Street and the railway yard below the bridge. However, Brink reassured the public that there were no structural issues with the bridge and that structural engineer reports confirmed its safety.
Charles Tlouane, City Power’s Group Executive for Service Delivery Centre Operations, confirmed that approximately R23 million would be required to fix the electrical infrastructure.
This includes the replacement of 11kv and telecommunications cables within the bridge, as well as 88 oil-filled cables. City Power technicians are working tirelessly around the clock to temporarily restore power supply to affected areas.
The restoration work is expected to be completed by May 20th. Tlouane also highlighted the ongoing issue of vandals targeting the city’s infrastructure, including traffic lights.
You can watch the video of the Johannesburg officials visiting the site below:
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