Mandela Bridge spruced up for CEOs
The final preparations for tonight’s CEO SleepOut on the Nelson Mandela Bridge are in motion.
|||Johannesburg - The Nelson Mandela Bridge is in tip-top shape for the CEO SleepOut tonight.
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Event manager Phil Prinsloo of Eyethu Events said maintenance had been done on the bridge before it was handed over to the organisers.
“Everything from a maintenance point of view has been done,” he said.
All the lights on the Mandela Bridge were working and City Power had also repaired the lights on the adjacent Queen Elizabeth Bridge, to be used by motorists as an alternative route while the Mandela Bridge is closed.
Prinsloo added that the Joburg metro had replaced broken glass panels on the Mandela Bridge.
Although the bridge was closed to motorists from 8pm on Tuesday already, pedestrians will still be allowed to use the bridge until the SleepOut starts at 6pm.
Traffic coming into the Joburg CBD was diverted from Smit Street onto the Queen Elizabeth Bridge from Tuesday night, with traffic out of the CBD through Ntemi Piliso Street diverted from Carr Street.
The reason the bridge had to be closed in advance was so that the organisers could erect temporary structures to house the clothing collections, blankets and sleeping bags.
Prinsloo pointed out that the SleepOut had been declared a protected event, which meant it was illegal for any marketing or touting not related to the event to be carried out on the bridge.
The police and Joburg metro police would ensure that the event proceeded safely, he said.
The Mandela Bridge will be re-opened to motorists at 5pm on Saturday.
gabi.falanga@inl.co.za
@Gabi_Falanga
THE STAR