Construction World January 2024

ROADS & BRIDGES

TSHOXA 1 BRIDGE REDEFINES SUSTAINABILITY IN INFRASTRUCTURE A sleek new road bridge stands proudly on the western edge of Qonce, formerly known as King Williams Town, in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. The Tshoxa 1 Bridge, commissioned by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) and constructed by WBHO, is a testament to the versatility and elegance of concrete in modern infrastructure projects.

T his 140 metre long bridge stands 18 metres above the Tshoxa River and a railway line with a railway bridge, forming a crucial part of a broader road improvement project. SANRAL's initiative aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of transportation in the region by upgrading key roads' alignment and infrastructure. These improvements will not only facilitate logistics and trade but also make driving safer, quicker and more cost effective. The Tshoxa 1 Bridge's sustainability is highlighted by its innovative concrete mix design. Cement from AfriSam and readymix from Stutt Group's batch plant near Daleview Quarry were used to create a sustainable W specification concrete mix. This mix reduced the environmental impact by eliminating dune sand from the mixture, saving approximately 13 800 tonnes of sand. Additionally, the inclusion of fly ash as a cementitious supplementary material significantly reduced

the carbon footprint. Construction on the broader road project began in 2021, with the Tshoxa 1 Bridge's construction commencing in April of that year. While the bridge itself is complete, the entire contract is expected to be finished by April 2024. Mariswe served as the consulting engineering company overseeing the contract, with Gibb handling the engineering designs. Stutt Group supplied the readymix for the bridge, using approximately 750 tonnes of HSC 52.5N CEM1 cement from AfriSam. This choice aligns with the government's policy of using locally manufactured cement for publicly funded projects, reducing reliance on imported cement. The Tshoxa 1 Bridge reflects the successful integration of concrete's functionality and aesthetics to enhance the quality of life through infrastructure development. It blends seamlessly into its rural surroundings while boasting an elegant concrete

30 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2024