RURAL development and land reform minister Gugile Nkwinti was yesterday impressed with progress on the Nelson Mandela Legacy Bridge, which will link key Transkei towns.

The 140m long and 8m high bridge, built in honour of the elderly statesman, is an initiative of Nkwinti’s department, with the provincial roads and public works department.

The bridge is expected to cost R123-million. Also forming part of the project is the construction of a 10km road up to the N2 and a small bridge near Ludondolo village.

During yesterday’s visit, Nkwinti was briefed by Aurecon consulting engineers and shown the work done so far.

Workers at the site were busy drilling and preparing the bridge’s foundation.

A road has been built leading to the site.

Nkwinti said his visit was to inspect the work ahead of the bridge’s launch next year by President Jacob Zuma.

“We intend to launch the bridge on the Gcaleka side and then hand it over to Dalindyebo [Kingdom of abaThembu].”

The launch is expected to take place either in January or February next year, but the bridge will only be completed in 2013.

“This Nelson Mandela Legacy Bridge is a bridge for South Africans to have easy access from all parts of this region,” he said.

According to Nkwinti, the bridge will have various spinoffs for the area, particularly for the Ludondolo village, which lies next to Mbhashe River and across from Mvezo.

Among the developments planned is a picnic site, overhaul of internal roads at Ludondolo, construction of a clinic, renovation of a school, and the construction of an early childhood development centre.

“The roads are in a bad state. We want to make roads. There will be paving made of brick,” Nkwinti said, adding that youths from the village would be trained to make the bricks.

Christian Mathiassen, technical director for Aurecon consulting engineers, said they were confident they would meet the February 2013 deadline.