Jet Demolition completes overnight bridge deconstruction in South Africa

Excavators work through the night to take down the Rockdale Road Bridge in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. (PHOTO: Jet Demolition)

The operation took place overnight during a full motorway closure from 18:00 on Saturday to 05:00 on Monday. The removal of the bridge marked a significant milestone in the wider N3 project, which is due to be completed in July 2025.

Led by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), the project aims to expand the N3 highway, a vital transport route connecting Durban’s port to major inland cities like Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg. The upgrades include constructing a new bridge to accommodate additional lanes, improving safety and traffic flow.

“The biggest challenge we face with rapid overnight bridge demolitions is the tight timeframes imposed by road closures and the planning demands and project costs associated with them,” said Johann Weinmann, Structural Engineer and Project Manager at Jet Demolition.

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He explained that strict adherence to the reopening schedule was critical, adding: “Beyond the extensive hourly lane penalty, you can only imagine the chaos and economic losses that would have arisen if the N3 highway had reopened late on Monday evening instead of early in the morning as scheduled.”

Jet Demolition employed detailed planning and contingency measures to ensure the project’s success. “From developing multiple demolition methodologies to having double execution teams and backup mechanics on standby, we left no stone unturned,” Weinmann said.

The team also had to address logistical issues during the operation. Weinmann highlighted an incident involving a delay caused by industrial action, which affected the delivery of a mobile crane. “This delay was promptly mitigated via cohesive teamwork during execution, ultimately meeting the project deadline and the clients’ satisfaction,” he said.

Further challenges included working with incomplete structural drawings, a common issue in older infrastructure. The team encountered unexpected structural features during the demolition, requiring quick adaptations without compromising safety.

The N3 highway upgrade is one of South Africa’s largest ongoing infrastructure projects, aimed at accommodating increasing traffic volumes on this key route for freight and commuter transport.