Construction World July 2024

formerly Aurecon Lesotho. Zutari also designed the Mabunyaneng and Khubelu bridges, the other two major bridges being constructed under Phase II. The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority awarded the Senqu Bridge construction contract valued at approximately M2 billion to the WRES Senqu Bridge Joint Venture in August 2022. The WRES Joint Venture includes South African, Lesotho and international companies as per the requirements of the Phase II Agreement. The primary partners are: Webuild S.p.A. (Italy); Raubex Construction (South Africa); Enza Construction (South Africa) and Sigma Construction (Lesotho). Sub-contractors include: EXR Construction (South Africa; Gleitbau-Geselschaft (Austria); Post Tensioning and Structural Solutions (South Africa) and Freyssinet International et Cie (France). The Senqu Bridge which is larger that the Mphorosane Bridge on the ‘Malibamats’o River which spans the Katse Dam constructed in Phase I of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), is expected to be completed in early 2026.

The main water transfer infrastructure works of Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water project are the Polihali Dam and the Polihali Transfer Tunnel. The Polihali Dam will create a 5 042 – hectare reservoir at the confluence of the Senqu and Khubelu rivers. It adds 2 325 million cubic metres in storage capacity to the LHWP enabling an incremental increase in the volume of water to be transferred to South Africa from 780 to 1 270 million cubic metres per annum, while simultaneously increasing power generation at ‘Muela by 40%. New roads and bridges are required to restore access across the reservoir and connectivity to the national road network. The three major bridges of Phase

II are being built along the Maseru to Mokhotlong A1 road at the Mabunyane, Khubelu and Senqu rivers. They will provide access to Mokhotlong town across the reservoir even at full supply and retain connectivity to the national road network along the A1, the main road between the Mokhotlong district in the mountainous north-east of the country and Maseru, Lesotho’s capital city. The major bridges programme is complemented by the construction of four pedestrian bridges and six vehicle bridges under the feeder roads and bridges programme to maintain connectivity and ensure mobility for communities in the reservoir area. This programme is currently under procurement. 

23 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2024