South Africa vows to finish Garden Route bridge after decade-long delay

South Africa is moving to finally complete a long-delayed section of the Garden Route, as pressure builds to fix one of the most disrupted stretches of the N2 highway between George and Wilderness.

The project, first launched nearly a decade ago, has become a symbol of how contractor failures, funding strain and administrative setbacks can stall key infrastructure work. 

At the center of the delays is a partially completed high-speed section of the N2 where traffic is still squeezed into narrow lanes separated by concrete barriers.

Motorists are forced to slow sharply along a short stretch of road, a daily reminder of unfinished construction on a corridor that carries both commuters and freight along the country’s southern coast. 

The upgrade is part of a broader program led by the South African National Roads Agency to improve safety and expand capacity along the Garden Route.

The route links key tourism towns and remains one of South Africa’s most heavily traveled coastal highways, but several sections still reflect years of stop-start construction.

A project slowed by repeated setbacks 

Work on the N2 widening near the Gwaing River began in 2018, with plans to build a second bridge and convert the stretch into a dual carriageway.

The original contract was set for 30 months, but progress slowed as the initial contractor faced cash flow constraints. 

The Covid-19 pandemic added further delays, and the project timeline was extended to 2021.

By that stage, the contractor had exited the job, and responsibility was shifted to a subcontractor, which later entered voluntary liquidation in 2022 after only a short period on site.

Costs rise as contracts change hands 

About 55% of the bridge work has been completed, according to Sanral, with roughly R92.3 million($5.7 million) already paid from an original R141.4 million($8.74 million) contract. The agency says payments reflect verified work completed on site, not projections. 

The remaining work is now estimated at about R174 million($10.75 million), driven by higher material costs, repeated contractor transitions and the expense of remobilizing equipment and crews after long pauses in construction.

Wider Garden Route upgrades underway 

Beyond the stalled bridge, Sanral is carrying out two additional upgrade programs along the N2. One involves the rehabilitation of the road between George and Wilderness, valued at about R713 million($44 million), including resurfacing, drainage improvements and intersection upgrades. 

The second phase extends toward Knysna and includes widening works, new service roads, pedestrian walkways and redesigned intersections aimed at improving safety.

That section, valued at about R956 million($59.05 million), has also faced weather-related disruptions, pushing completion timelines further out. 

Despite the setbacks, Sanral says work continues across all active sections and that completion of the Gwaing River bridge remains a priority once a new contractor is appointed.