The successful bidder for the Msikaba Bridge is a joint venture between South African civil engineering company Concor and international construction business Mota-Engil.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) had launched a new tender process as no acceptable bids had been received when the project was initially advertised last year (link opens in new tab).
The bridge over the Msikaba Gorge will be built near Lusikisiki. It is one of two major bridges as part of the N2 Wild Coast project; the contract for the nearby Mtentu Bridge was awarded last year (link opens in new tab).
Msikaba's 580m main span will be the longest for a cable-stayed bridge in Africa and the second-longest main span on the continent after the recently completed 680m of the Maputo-Catembe suspension bridge in Mozambique. Its piers will be 127m high and the height of the deck will be approximately 195m above the valley floor, making it the third-highest bridge in Africa after Bloukraans at 216m and the Mtentu Bridge at 223m.
The 33-month construction period for the Msikaba Bridge is due to get under way in February 2019 following an initial three-month ramp-up period that starts next month. The total contract amount is approximately US$115 million, excluding value added tax.
