The upgrade of the National Route 1 (N1) between Scottland and Winburg, undertaken by SANRAL, involves the rehabilitation of the existing road and its expansion from a single carriageway to a four-lane dual carriageway to enhance safety and capacity. The project also includes the upgrading of two bridges along the route to accommodate the widened roadway.
Once completed, the development will improve traffic flow between Bloemfontein and Gauteng. Mukona Group has been appointed by the main contractor, WSM Group, to carry out piling and lateral support works for the bridges.
According to Teboho Motaung, Operations Director at Mukona Group, the company will install approximately 1 500 m² of lateral support to enable access for the upgrades to the Grootwet and Kleinwet river bridges.
In addition, Mukona will install 127 oscillator piles, totalling 2 400 m of piling. These piles, each 1 200 mm in diameter with a 1 050 mm diameter socket, are being installed to an average depth of 25 m and will be temporarily cased. The bridge abutment designs require the installation of raked piles of 1:4 inclination.
SAICE – Civil Engineering – May 2026