Floods and Damages

[Flutterby]

And they are still stuck there this morning! But there has been nothing said about this from SANParks.

[Flutterby]

This morning the water level at one of the bridges had dropped enough to make it passable. Guests were told they had until 11am to cross and then work would start on the bridge. When guests arrived before 11 work had already started and now they have to wait until about 3pm before they can cross. One visitor (with young children) has said they now have to wait in their car at the bridge as they do not have enough petrol to go back to Biyamiti and then back to the bridge again.

Bad communication from SANParks again!! No mention of this has been made on the website or their FB page!!

Edit: Just read that the chain on the digger has just broken!

[nan]

This morning the water level at one of the bridges had dropped enough to make it passable. Guests were told they had until 11am to cross and then work would start on the bridge. When guests arrived before 11 work had already started and now they have to wait until about 3pm before they can cross. One visitor (with young children) has said they now have to wait in their car at the bridge as they do not have enough petrol to go back to Biyamiti and then back to the bridge again.

Bad communication from SANParks again!! No mention of this has been made on the website or their FB page!!

Edit: Just read that the chain on the digger has just broken!

[Bushcraft]

[Flutterby]

They were eventually able to cross the bridge at about 3.30pm yesterday.

[BluTuna]

Any news of the Balule bridge? It was due to be fixed by now.

[Bushcraft]

Hey BT

To my knowledge the Feb "floods" washed away all the partial repair work on the southern end and I believe the there’s no work happening there at the moment. Most likely waiting for the normal insurance and tender process. I don’t think it will open before October

[BluTuna]

I booked Balule for May after I'd read that the bridge would be fixed by the middle of April. The last time I used that bridge was in 2011

Looks like watching the sun go down at the high-level bridge isn't an option AGAIN

[Bushveld Jock]

BluTuna,

The bridge was never completely fixed since the 2012 floods and the recent floods did not result in much damage, because nothing was done to complete the southern section since Nov 2012. Tenders closed en April to fix the bridge so don't put up high hopes to have it open before October this year.

KNP-001-13 - Invitation for a suitable service provider for the extension and repair of the Balule low water bridge in the Kruger National Park. Re-advertisement

South African National Parks (SANParks) invites prospective service providers to submit a bid for the extension and repair of the Balule low water bridge in the Kruger National Park. (CIDB Grading: 6 CE PE)

SANParks is a corporate body established in terms of National Environmental Management; Protected Areas Act No 57 of 2003 as amended.

Documents
Invitation to Bid

The bid is issued in accordance with the Preferential Procurement Regulations 2011. SANParks is not obliged to accept the lowest or any bid.

Enquiries
Email & queries to:
Mr Lucky Mahlalela
Email: lucky.mahlalela@sanparks.org
Telephone no: (013) 735 4311

Please note
Compulsory Briefing Session: Balule low level bridge, on the S90 road, Kruger National Park on 17 April 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
The bid documents will only be available at the Supply Chain Management (Procurement) office, Administration Block, Skukuza, as from 7 April 2014. A non-refundable deposit of R500, payable in cash or by bank-guaranteed cheque made out in favour of SANParks, is required on collection of the bid document.
The bid closing date is the 29 April 2014 at 11:00 .
Bid submission address: Supply Chain Management (Procurement) Office, Administrative Block, Skukuza, 1350

Only difference between now and 1,5 years back is that more sand was washed away on the southern side.

Some pics of the low water bridge taken on 29 Dec 2012.

[Richprins]

Thanks, BJ!

Bridges like that are old, anchored in solid rock, and designed to be flooded! Hence the location.

As seen, and I'm no engineer, the immense flood eroded the access dropways, not really the bridge?

It should not be such a massive undertaking to pile up access dropways in the dry season...but tenders have to take their course. This inconvenience is now two years old!