Proposed construction of a section of Toleni to Ndabakazi Community Roads and a Low-Level Crossing in Cegcuwana Village, Mnquma Local Municipality, Amathole District.

The current state of the low-level causeway, which has been damaged due to poor design, lack of maintenance coupled with periods of high rainfall/flooding, poses a risk to the community. Currently, there is no formalised crossing available, and people and vehicles have to cross the river over river bedding and cobblestones which is not accessible during periods of high rainfall and is a safety concern. Since this bridge connects eMphesheya and KwaNofodosi, it provides vital access and serves as a major connection between these two areas and the communities that depend on the route to access basic services.

The Eastern Cape Department of Transport (ECDOT) intends to upgrade a section of the road and the low-level culvert crossing over the iCegcuwana River in the Cegcuana Township Allotment Area, Eastern Cape. The project scope includes the construction of a low-level crossing structure and the upgrading of approximately 370 meters of community access road from gravel to surfaced standards. The primary objective is to enhance access and infrastructure within the area. The project will be located within the footprint of the existing gravel road.

The proposed scope of work includes:
Road Realignment and Grading
• The existing gravel road at the iCegcuwana River Crossing will be realigned to integrate seamlessly with the proposed low-level crossing structure (Figure 3).
• Road grading will be executed to ensure proper drainage, minimizing stormwater accumulation and erosion.

Low-Level Crossing Structure
• The proposed structure is a 12-cell precast concrete box culvert, each cell measuring 1.8 meters in width and 1.5 meters in height.
• The culvert is designed to accommodate a peak discharge flow rate based on hydrological studies, ensuring it can withstand a 1:50-year flood event.
• Wing walls and headwalls will be constructed to guide water flow and provide structural stability to the culvert.
• The low-level crossing will be a single carriageway and is approximately 3m wide.
• The length of the low-level crossing is 26.23m and the width of the low-level crossing is 5.4m. The width inclusive of the wingwalls and headwalls is 10.47m.
• The existing crossing structure will be utilized as a temporary bypass and demolished once construction is complete.

Pavement Design
• The road upgrade will involve constructing a new pavement structure designed to handle the anticipated traffic load, including light vehicles and occasional heavy vehicles.
• The pavement layers will include a subgrade compacted to 95% Modified Proctor Density, a subbase layer of crushed stone, and an asphalt slurry surface layer.
• The road is 3m wide with a 1.5m wide concrete drain on one side and a 0.25m edge beam on the other side.
• On either side of the low-level crossing the road will increase to 3.5m wide to allow for a stop area prior to crossing.

Drainage and Erosion Control
• Adequate drainage systems, including side drains, will be installed to manage surface runoff and prevent erosion.
• Reno mattresses, gabions and stone pitching will also be constructed at the wingwall/ headwalls inlet and outlet for erosion protection.
• The overall footprint of the bridge will be roughly 670m2.

Safety and Aesthetic Considerations:
Safety features such as guardrails, signage, and road markings will be included to enhance road user safety.