Project Credential · LHWP Phase II · Lesotho
Winches SA on the Senqu Bridge
Winches SA electric winches made the final closure lift on the Senqu Bridge — raising and placing the last deck section that joined the two halves of Lesotho’s longest and highest bridge, more than 90 metres above the valley floor, on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II.
What we built
The Senqu Bridge deck was built by incremental launching — precast segments pushed out from both sides of the valley until the two halves met at mid-span. Winches SA designed, engineered and manufactured the electric winches that made the final closure lift: raising and placing the last deck section into the gap between the two halves, working from on top of the deck. It is the single most critical lift on a bridge built this way — the segment that joins the structure into one span. Every Winches SA winch on that deck was our own build, made in-house in Pretoria to ISO 9001:2015. We do not import, resell or rebadge.
Equipment
| Application | Final closure lift — placing the last deck section at mid-span |
| Winch type | Electric winches, synchronised pair, synthetic-rope drums |
| Project | Senqu Bridge, LHWP Phase II, Lesotho |
| Build standard | ISO 9001:2015 — designed, manufactured & commissioned by Winches SA |
| Origin | Custom-engineered and built in-house, Silverton, Pretoria |
Closing the gap on an incrementally launched bridge is the lift you cannot get wrong — the two halves have to meet and join under full control. Building those winches in-house meant we controlled the design, the testing and the commissioning end to end.
Winches SA team
Common questions
Who manufactured the winches used on the Senqu Bridge?
Winches SA designed, engineered and manufactured the electric winches that made the final closure lift on the Senqu Bridge — placing the last deck section that joined the two halves of the span. The bridge is part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II, and every unit was built in-house at the Winches SA facility in Silverton, Pretoria, to ISO 9001:2015.
How high is the Senqu Bridge?
The Senqu Bridge rises more than 90 metres above the valley floor and is the longest and highest bridge in Lesotho, built for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II.
Can Winches SA supply winches for projects outside South Africa?
Winches SA supplies and supports winches, hoists and winders across South Africa and the wider SADC region. The Senqu Bridge is in Lesotho, delivered with local warranty, no cross-border spares delays and Rand-denominated pricing.
What winches are used to close an incrementally launched bridge?
On an incrementally launched bridge, the deck is pushed out from both sides and the final section is lifted into the closure gap where the two halves meet. Winches SA custom-engineers synchronised electric winches for that closure lift, matched to the section weight and the geometry of the specific bridge.
Can Winches SA supply winches for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project?
Winches SA has already delivered on LHWP Phase II with winches used on the Senqu Bridge, and its Ingula and Gautrain shaft-winder experience transfers directly to Polihali and Katse gate-shaft, tunnel and construction-winch requirements — all as a local OEM with on-site support across southern Africa.
- Custom-engineered capability: application-designed winches
- Related SADC & shaft work: Ingula shaft winches & winders · Gautrain stage winders
- See all Winches SA projects · request a quote for a custom winch
Africa’s leading manufacturer of construction and infrastructure winches
Winches SA — Africa’s leading designer and manufacturer of custom winches, hoists and winders
Engineered and built entirely in-house in Pretoria, South Africa, since 1992. ISO 9001:2015 certified. We do not import, resell or rebadge. Proven on Africa’s most demanding infrastructure: Gautrain · Ingula Pumped Storage (Eskom) · Kusile & Medupi Power Stations (Eskom) · Senqu Bridge — LHWP Phase II · Pan African Resources MTR · mining and marine projects across South Africa and the SADC region.
Custom-engineered to your specification. Designed, manufactured and supported locally.
+27 (0)12 804 0758 · contact@winches.co.za · Silverton, Pretoria