Staff Reporter|Published
The N1 has reopened to traffic in both directions after emergency repairs to a pedestrian bridge severely damaged by a truck carrying a large industrial tank near Paarden Eiland.
The Lower Church Street pedestrian bridge on FW de Klerk Boulevard was damaged on Saturday night, October 10, when a heavy articulated flatbed truck struck the underside of the structure while travelling outbound.
According to the City of Cape Town, the impact dislodged the truck’s load, causing it to tip onto the roadway.
The collision left cracked concrete, exposed steel reinforcement and debris scattered across the highway, forcing the closure of sections of the N1 in both directions.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, said engineers worked throughout Sunday and overnight to lift and realign a 50-ton section of the damaged bridge.
“The urgent repairs to the N1 overhead pedestrian bridge on the N1 FW De Klerk Boulevard at Paarden Eiland as a result of damage caused by a truck on Saturday night are ongoing,” Quintas said in a statement issued on Sunday evening.
“City engineers have worked all of today, and will continue work through the night. However, the repair efforts include two cranes which are currently working to lift and realign a fifty ton section of the bridge damaged by the collision.”
The operation forced the closure of the N1 in both directions, with Quintas warning motorists to prepare for possible severe delays during Monday morning’s peak traffic.
“The heavy duty works have necessitated the closure of that section of the N1 in the inbound and outbound lanes.”
The City has since reopened the N1 to traffic in both directions.
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