Aveng, partner quit bridge build

Aveng said on Monday the Aveng Strabag joint venture had terminated its contract with the SA National Roads Agency to build the R1.65bn Mtentu Bridge in the Eastern Cape.

Aveng said on Monday the Aveng Strabag joint venture had terminated its contract with the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) to build the R1.65bn Mtentu Bridge in the Eastern Cape.

This follows violent protests against the project, which entails building a 1.1km bridge over the Mtentu River on the N2 Wild Coast. With the nearby Msikaba Bridge, the Mtentu Bridge is part of an improvement to make the N2 Wild Coast toll road shorter and faster.

Aveng, which is in a joint venture with Europe-based Strabag International, said the contractors have not been on site since October 22 “due to threats of violence and levels of community unrest and protest action related to demands made against Sanral”.

Aveng, helmed by Eric Diack, said the construction companies disagree with Sanral’s assertion that it is safe to continue with the construction.

The joint venture “does not agree with Sanral’s view and related events do not support Sanral’s view.

“The ability to execute works safely and in accordance with international best practice is [the joint venture’s] primary concern,” Aveng said.

Aveng said Sanral was informed of the decision to terminate the contract on Wednesday last week.

Strabag spokesperson Diana Neumüller-Klein said the nature of the threats, unrest and protest action at the project is unprecedented. “The construction of the Mtentu Bridge is technically demanding and requires compliance with the most stringent international engineering and safety standards, with zero margin for the disruption of the nature experienced,” Neumüller-Klein said.

Based on their combined experience in complex bridge projects, Aveng and Strabag concluded that the joint venture cannot continue with its work “and has therefore elected to terminate the Mtentu contract”.

Sanral did not respond to a request for comment.