The eThekwini Municipality is urging pedestrians and motorists to heed road safety rules as the bridge over the N2 linking uMhlanga New Town and Cornubia is expected to partially open this week.

The bridge, which is a crucial section of a new route in the City’s integrated public transport network, GO!Durban, will run from uMhlanga New Town to Bridge City, KwaMashu and will see two single lanes going both directions opened to traffic on from Wednesday 28 November 2018.

Safety a priority

Thami Manyathi, Head of the City’s Transport Authority, says pedestrians living in the informal settlement of Blackburn and the large Cornubia housing estate are not using the walkways provided for them and are continuing to cross the N2.

“We appeal to pedestrians in the area to be aware that motorists will now be using the bridge and off-ramp and that there will be active construction vehicles on the boulevard and the off-ramps as construction on the new route continues.

“Pedestrian sidewalks across the bridge and along the Blackburn off-ramp have been constructed and we implore the community to please use those, for their own safety,” Manyathi, explains.

A significant engineering feat

Meanwhile the municipality is excited about the opportunities the new bridge, which has been described as a significant engineering feat presents.

The structure is 125 metres long and 50 metres wide and comprises of three individual bridges that were “stitched together” to form a single structure carrying six mixed-use traffic lanes as well as pedestrian sidewalks and two bus lanes, notes Brian Downie Project Engineer.

Economic spinoffs

It is a crucial link in the Corridor 8 and 9 routes in the GO!Durban networks from the airport and Bridge City respectively.

The bridge fulfils a number of functions, not least of which is to open up Cornubia directly from uMhlanga – boding well for investment aspirations in Cornubia Town Centre, Cornubia Business Estate and the housing projects in uMhlanga Hills.

“The economic spin offs as result of this development, are promising to be considerable and much needed job opportunities are also expected to be created,” the municipality notes.