Garden Route earth embankment slip repairs

The Department of Transport and Public Works is making good progress with earth embankment slip repairs in Knysna, Keurboomstrand and Nature’s Valley. This R11 million project started in June 2016 and is expected to have been completed in January 2017.

The embankment in Knysna stood for many decades but a large slip occurred in 2015 which required one lane of the road to be closed to traffic. The slip left unstable loose material on the slopes which posed a potential threat to road and pedestrian traffic. The loose material will be removed, and a 4 m high reinforced concrete wall built along the full 60 m length of the unstable slope. The sidewalk will be resurfaced with asphalt and minor changes will be made to stormwater drainage structures.

The road near Keurboomstrand will be excavated to remove unstable material for a distance of 50 m, and new reinforced earth layers will replace what has been removed. A subsoil drain will be installed to improve the drainage of the foundation layers. The road will be resurfaced with asphalt and a stone pitch side drain will be built.

Six areas have been identified for repairs in Nature’s Valley. The road will be excavated to remove poor foundation material. Reinforced earth layers will replace what has been removed and concrete edge barriers will be built. The road will be resurfaced with asphalt.

Every attempt will be made to facilitate the flow of traffic and minimise delays during construction. One lane will be closed in an easterly direction in Knysna, and 24-hour stop/go controls will be put in place in Nature’s Valley. Arrangements will be made for residents of Keurboomstrand to get to and from their homes during construction.

A proportion of the contract amount will be spent on employing and training locally sourced contract labour, and a proportion on procuring goods and services from targeted Western Cape enterprises. A total of 3 300 person-days of work will be created for approximately 22 local people per month from Eden District, and R980 000 will go to targeted enterprises.