M1 Bridge Collapse - Grayston Drive

[herbertk]

^^ posted already.

and then removed I think...

 

[WaxLyrical]

Half the staff got to work from home today because if this.

Huh?

 

[Aquila ka Hecate]

Huh?

The traffic, apparently, was horrible.

I get into Sandton really early, so I had no issues, but several of my colleagues tell me it was a nightmare.

 

[Electron1]

I made like that 80's band and eVoid going in to Sandton this morning. I will go in Afternoon though, so hoping it is better.

 

[schumi]

Zuma responds to deadly bridge collapse

JOHANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma has urged construction companies to take all the necessary precautions to protect construction workers and avoid tragedies.

Zuma has responded to the deadly bridge collapse on the M1 highway which has claimed two lives and saw scores of people injured.

At the same time, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has described the bridge collapse as a “tragedy” and says investigations must unearth what caused the scaffolding to crash.

The minister is currently abroad and is being kept up to speed on developments through Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi and others.

The minister's spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso said, “The minister sends her heartfelt and sincere condolences to the families of the three who unfortunately perished. She also wishes a speedy recovery to others who sustained injuries.”

Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau is en route to the visit the injured in hospital.

More at http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/15/Bridge-collapse-Calls-for-thorough-investigations-to-be-conducted

 

[The_Unbeliever]

^ waffling now to score political points...

 

[ToxicBunny]

Not to detract from this tragedy, but I've always wondered why government officials feel the need to visit victims of things like this in hospital...

If I was one of the victims, or a family member I'd tell Parks to sod off and leave the family alone.

 

[Necropolis]

Not to detract from this tragedy, but I've always wondered why government officials feel the need to visit victims of things like this in hospital...

If I was one of the victims, or a family member I'd tell Parks to sod off and leave the family alone.

They have to look like they give a ****.

 

[schumi]

Third critical bridge collapse victim still alive - Tau

Mpho Raborife and Adam Wakefield, News24

Johannesburg - Reports that a third person was killed following the collapse of scaffolding for a bridge under construction over the M1 highway were untrue, Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau said on Thursday.

"Fortunately, we have only had two fatalities. The third patient did not pass on, which is a great relief," Tau told reporters at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.

Out of those injured in Wednesday afternoon's collapse, three critically injured people were taken to Charlotte Maxeke and another three were taken to Milpark hospital.

Charlotte Maxeke head of trauma Steve Moeng said two men and a woman were in the intensive care unit. The men were on ventilation while the woman was not. However, she was being closely monitored.

One of the two men only turned 21 on Saturday, his mother told News24. "Only God knows why that happened yesterday. Let us not point any fingers."

Earlier on Thursday morning, there was confusion regarding the number of people killed in the collapse.

Tau's spokesperson Phindile Chauke told News24 the city had received a report of a third death following the collapse over the highway by Grayston Drive near the Sandton central business district (CBD).

"We have received a report a third person has died, but once we complete the site inspection, we will be going to hospital to confirm," Chauke said at the time.

The city's emergency management services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi, though, told News24 only two people had died with the third person in a critical condition in hospital.

The number of injured remained at 21.

At the time, Chauke said around 80% of the debris had been cleared by 08:15 with the city anticipating the highway to be clear for afternoon peak traffic.

Traffic mayhem

The M1 south has been closed from the Buccleuch interchange where the N1, N3 and M1 meet, with traffic diverted down the two national highways. The city warned of heavy traffic pressure, especially from Fourways, Linbro Park and Midrand.

The M1 north has been closed from the Athol Oaklands off-ramp with traffic diverted on to arterial and surrounding roads.

The concrete Grayston bridge remained open to traffic to cross over the highway. Pointsmen were deployed at the Rivonia N1 off-ramp and around the Sandton CBD to help manage the expected heavy traffic.

Tau said the city had made available free bus services on Thursday via the Gautrain buses, Metrobus and Putco, and had increased capacity on the Gautrain to help alleviate traffic.

On Wednesday, construction company Murray & Roberts, responsible for the construction of the scaffolding, said in a statement there was still no clarity on the cause. Its directors and CEO had gone to the scene with the immediate priority ensuring those affected were taken care of.

Cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister Pravin Gordhan was also understood to be going to the collapse site.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...idge-collapse-victim-still-alive-Tau-20151015

 

[ToxicBunny]

They have to look like they give a ****.

And that is precisely why I'd tell him to go fsck himself and leave the family alone....

I wonder how often that actually happens...

 

[The_Unbeliever]

And that is precisely why I'd tell him to go fsck himself and leave the family alone....

I wonder how often that actually happens...

They do visits in order to give the impression they still do care, whilst not giving any.

 

[schumi]

Cement truck may have crashed into M1 bridge

JOHANNESBURG - Murray & Roberts says it's looking into claims that a cement truck may have crashed into the bridge before it fell after initially saying that strong winds were to blame for the collapse.

The construction giant says the cement construction truck doesn’t belong to the company.

Investigators are probing whether the vehicle may have crashed into the scaffolding before it fell.

The truck’s window screen was shattered when a piece of scaffolding fell on it.

Construction workers are working as quickly as possible to clear and reopen the M1 highway before the afternoon traffic rush in Sandton.

A motorist says the roads were chaotic this morning.

“My legs are so sore, I even had cramps. People are diverting, some are lost, and they don’t even know how they are going to come out of this place.”

Most of the scaffolding has now been removed but it’s unclear when authorities will reopen the highway.

More at http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/15/Murray-and-Roberts-Cement-truck-may-have-crashed-into-the-bridge

 

[skeptic_SA]

More at http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/15/Murray-and-Roberts-Cement-truck-may-have-crashed-into-the-bridge

See post #169

 

[Ockie]

Thank goodness for Waze. I set it yesterday leaving the conference to not use highways so it took me via the back roads. Traffic was severerly backed up on South Road going up to Rivonia and I had to stop at the Shell garage there to get petrol and I was on reserve tank so if I hit more dead traffic I would not have made it. Then Waze took me off Rivonia all the way with back roads then up William Nichol and that was actually ok.

 

[Solarion]

More at http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/15/Murray-and-Roberts-Cement-truck-may-have-crashed-into-the-bridge

Cement truck may have crashed into M1 bridge.

The construction giant says the cement construction truck doesn’t belong to the company.

Somebody didn't get the tender like they hoped.

 

[Electron1]

PigSpotter Cliff ‏@PigSpotter 2 hours ago
Remains of the Toyota Fortuner from the Grayston temp bridge collapse which has claimed 3 lives. RIP

 

[skeptic_SA]

Somebody didn't get the tender like they hoped.

Like M&R didn't EVER get a tender they wanted?

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2014/02/02/murray-roberts-fobbed-off-whistle-blower

 

[LazyLion]

[video=youtube;eck1o2MTkbM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=eck1o2MTkbM[/video]

 

[Solarion]

Like M&R didn't EVER get a tender they wanted?

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2014/02/02/murray-roberts-fobbed-off-whistle-blower

Woah :erm:

Murray & Roberts colluded with other firms, including Stefanutti Stocks, Aveng and WBHO, to rip off the public on a large number of projects, including construction of the Green Point Stadium and the Gautrain and the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, for which e-tolls are now being levied on consumers.

 

[schumi]

Traffic crawls, tempers flare after tragedy

Johannesburg - The aftermath of Wednesday’s deadly bridge collapse in Sandton caused chaos on many routes around Joburg on Thursday morning as the M1 was expected to be reopened only later.

Commuters struggled to make their way through the severe traffic backlog caused by the closure of roads near the Grayston Drive off-ramp.

Many hooted and shouted in anger, while others violated road rules to get to their destinations as fast as possible.

Two people were killed and 21 injured when the pedestrian bridge collapsed sometime after 3pm on Wednesday smashing tons of steel scaffolding onto traffic on the busy highway.

On the northbound side, a blue Toyota Fortuner with a Durban registration plate was hit by the falling bridge. There were five occupants in the car.

The front passenger, believed to be an adult male, died while the female driver was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital.

On the southbound side, a Toyota Hi-Ace taxi was hit. The driver was killed and two of the passengers in the front were injured.

EMS spokesman Robert Mulaudzi on Thursday morning denied earlier reports that a third person had died.

“Radio reports were incorrect. The person is critical along with four others, but there has not been a third death.

“Everyone has now been accounted for,” he said.

His team would be visiting hospitals on Thursday to check on the progress of all of the 21 who were injured.

On Thursday morning the freeway area where the scaffolding collapsed was restricted to police officers and construction workers removing the rubble.

They were using specialised and heavy machinery to lift the large remains of scrap metal strewn across the highway.

The scene continued to draw large crowds of spectators who wanted to watch the mop-up operations.

Metres away, motorists who tried to make their way into Sandton queued as Joburg metro police department (JMPD) officers rerouted them, but alternative routes were also congested.

Frustrated, many tried to use the yellow lane reserved for emergency vehicles to cut through traffic.

Other violations were more severe such as driving in the oncoming lane and even on the pavement.

Anger escalated to the point where a JMPD officer had to intervene when a motorist got out of his car and started screaming at a taxi driver who had cut him off.

At the Gautrain stations, there was a sense of camaraderie as commuters waited for the bus which was running free on Thursdday in light of the tragedy.

More at http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-afr...rs-flare-after-tragedy-1.1930555#.Vh-LaW6-Opo