The Mtentu Bridge forms part of the N2 Wild Coast road (N2WC) project, which aims to improve the travel time between Durban and East London for heavy freight vehicles.

[2][9] The project commenced in November that year, with the bridge component starting in January 2018 however ASJV suspended works in October 2018 due to violent community protests.

[12][13] In September 2019 SANRAL applied to National Treasury for permission to renegotiate with the previously pre-qualified, but unsuccessful bidders, to complete the bridge contract.

[1] The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) worked as the funding overseer for SANRAL for the Mtentu Bridge project.

DBSA stated that it did not persist in recommending any bidder, but simply evaluated them based on their technical and financial capabilities, their preference score and their compliance with environmental and social standards.