New Seaford rail bridge needing repairs on extension joints Martin Skinner and Daniel Sanchez fish on the banks of the Onkaparinga River, near the Seaford rail extension bridge. THE Seaford rail bridge, which is part of a $291 million Noarlunga line extension, already needs repairs before train services can begin. It's feared the repair work will delay the opening of the 5.2km Seaford rails extension, due to be completed early next year, after the discovery of problems with its expansion joints. The State Government said there was a "manufacturing issue" with the joints on the 1.2km long bridge, which spans the Onkaparinga River Valley. When quizzed about the problem at budget estimates hearings in Parliament this afternoon Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis revealed the "issue" with the joints. "Before services even commence, obviously, the bridge goes through a commissioning stage and that commissioning stage has found some things to be remedied," he said in answer to questions by Opposition transport spokeswoman Vickie Chapman. As part of the contract the contractor is completing them and remedying the problems and delivering it to the Government in an acceptable state. In responding to Ms Chapman's questions the minister admitted "this is the first I have heard of any deficiency." Ms Chapman said there had already been a delay in the original beginning of services "which the Government previously promised would happen in 2013." "This latest development raises concerns about electric rail services commencing by the beginning of next year," Ms Chapman said.