The Elgin Road bridge in Birchleigh, Kempton Park, is still a daily danger for drivers despite years of warnings, budget plans, and complaints from the community. The low bridge, designed for vehicles under three metres, traps trucks almost every week. Each incident blocks traffic and damages the bridge, requiring police and emergency crews to clear the scene. Residents, including Ward 15 councillor Amanda Davison, say the city has failed to act on an obvious safety problem, and the lack of visible progress has only increased frustration.
What’s Being Done to Fix the Elgin Bridge?
The City of Ekurhuleni’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) has set aside money over a three-year budget for improvements of the bridge—R300,000 in 2024/25, R500,000 in 2025/26, and another R500,000 in 2026/27—yet nothing has changed. City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the initial funds were used to hire engineers for a feasibility study. He confirmed that a service provider was appointed and that an investigation and design report is currently being finalised. The report’s recommendations will determine what steps are required next and the corresponding costs.
“This bridge has been a hazard for decades,” Davison said, adding that trucks and freight continue to get stuck “on a near-daily basis”, wasting emergency resources and delaying commuters. The bridge’s structural safety has also been questioned, particularly after the 2022 Boksburg tanker explosion, which killed over 30 people when a truck struck another low bridge roughly five kilometres away. That tragedy underscored the potentially fatal consequences of ignoring recurring transport hazards.
Across Africa, issues like poor signage and neglected infrastructure continue to endanger road users. But examples elsewhere show these problems can be fixed. In Kenya, for example, the notorious Likoni Road underpass in Nairobi—once plagued by truck collisions—is being rehabilitated through coordinated government action and better height detection systems. The project includes road and bridge upgrades designed to ease traffic flow and improve safety around Nairobi’s industrial district.
Ekurhuleni officials say they’re working with Google Maps and Waze to add low-bridge alerts for drivers. The Elgin Road bridge remains a sign of slow action, but with the city’s investigation almost done, residents hope this time real repairs will finally begin.
