The driver of a truck that crashed into a pedestrian bridge over the N1 in Cape Town has been arrested, the City of Cape Town said. The truck has also been impounded while investigators look at the damage.
Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith confirmed the arrest. The crash damaged the bridge on FW de Klerk Boulevard, between Church Street and the city centre, and forced the closure of all lanes on the route.
“Engineers used two cranes to lift and realign a 100-tonne section of the bridge, ensuring its safety for public use,” Ward 115 councillor Ian McMahon told Cape Town ETC.
Crews worked through the night on the emergency repairs. The N1 inbound and outbound lanes were fully open again in time for the Monday morning commute on 12 October, with all debris removed.
Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas confirmed the reopening in a City update issued at 04:30 on Monday. McMahon announced at 05:00 that the road linking the city centre to outlying areas was working again.
According to the City update, the bridge was damaged by a truck on Saturday night. “Job scoping for remedial and aesthetic repairs will begin this week,” the update read.
McMahon said the City plans to hold the truck company responsible for all charges and costs linked to the bridge damage and the traffic disruptions that followed.
“This is a reminder that safety is paramount, and responsibility must be taken to ensure our roads remain safe for all users,” he said.
The heavy flatbed truck was reportedly carrying a large industrial tank when it hit the underside of the bridge. The impact knocked off its load and damaged the bridge structure.
Eyewitnesses said the truck tipped over. Concrete debris fell across several outbound lanes of the highway.
City Emergency Services, Fire and Rescue and Law Enforcement secured the scene. Structural engineers were sent to check whether the bridge was still safe.
Quintas said the crash caused heavy structural damage. He said there was severe concrete spalling and exposed reinforcing steel along the underside of the bridge deck.
While the road was closed, Quintas said the City could not give a time for it to reopen. “It is pending the outcome of inspection,” he said at the time.
During the closure, motorists were told to use Albert Road and Sir Lowry Road through Woodstock or Salt River. The N2 outbound, Nelson Mandela Boulevard, was suggested as the main detour from the city centre.
The City said it is now reviewing the bridge design and its clearance requirements. It said the aim is to improve safety for both vehicles and pedestrians.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Cape Town ETC. Image: Cape Town ETC. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.