The Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on the local project cargo sector as it saw many projects halted or delayed in the country. While volumes are starting to improve, it has not been easy the past two years while the situations at both the Port of Durban and Richards Bay have further impacted the sector.According to Philip Warren, managing director of Africa Route Clearance Consultants (ARC), the recent f looding in Durban did not help the sector, which operates under stringent rules and regulations.“Routes for abnormal loads are very specific – and with so much damage to infrastructure, especially to a bridge structure crossing the N2, moving cargo out of Durban has been dif f icult.”Project cargo of a certain height was stuck in the port – and at a cost of nearly R5 000 a day, specialised road freight carriers opted to make use of the Old Durban Airport Service Road as a bypass to circumvent the “blocked” abnormal load route.At the time, Freight News Online reported on the unfolding standoff between officials after the bypass was closed by Transnet after an abnormal load combination damaged Transnet infrastructure. This effectively limited abnormal loads higher than 5.50m from departing the Durban port – and even at this height the routing for them had excessive contra-f low travel on the M4.After intense negotiations and discussions, industry has welcomed the recent decision by Transnet to reopen the 480m section of road.
