The spokesperson for the provincial department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Hillary Mophethe said they have been informed of the incident. She explains that it was reported that the driver of the truck indicated that he was feeling tired and lost control of the vehicle. 

Earlier this week, the department informed motorists in the area that the bridge, together with the R48 access road, will be closed from 09:00 to 13:00 from Wednesday 19 April to Saturday 22 April, to allow repairs to take place on the bridge and asphalt surfacing of the road.

ALSO READ: Two-day road closure in Free State

The appointed contractor for the repairs is Moloko O Motjha Trading, whose van was seen assisting with moving the items that were on the truck. It is understood that no one was injured in the incident and at the moment the police are on the scene to help open up the bridge. 

This is not the first time bridge number 981 and the R48 access road are temporarily closed for repairs. Earlier this year the department closed it for two days.

ALSO READ: Condition of Koffiefontein Bridge is alarming

In 2019, OFM News reported the community of Koffiefontein is concerned about the state of the bridge that crosses the Riet River on the R48 road. The surface of the bridge is not level and the tar seems to have melted, and as a result, shifted. 

A resident of Koffiefontein, Danieka Muller, told OFM News that the condition of the bridge is alarming and extremely dangerous for motorists and pedestrians who use it daily. She said she recently had to replace her car's exhaust pipe after it was damaged by the bridge. 

At the time in 2019, the spokesperson of the Letsemeng Municipality, Jimmy Mokgwetsi, explained to OFM News that the municipality was not aware of the issue and is also concerned about the condition that the bridge is in. He said the municipality considers this matter a security risk that could lead to possible deaths.

OFM News