Arrive Early: Limited Space Available to View Athlone Towers Implosion | Western Cape Government

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Arrive Early: Limited Space Available to View Athlone Towers Implosion

18 August 2010

The City has identified two areas from which a limited number of people could view the implosion of the two cooling towers at Athlone Power Station at 12:00 on Sunday 22 August, namely the Clyde Pinelands Sports Club and Rhodes Memorial. The two venues can accommodate approximately four thousand (4 000) and five hundred (500) people respectively.

The Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Dan Plato, will activate the implosion device from the Clyde Pinelands Sports Club at noon.

Only a very small area around the towers offers a clear and unobstructed view. From other areas in the vicinity the view is obscured by structures, buildings or trees. Access to the viewing areas is free, but on a first come first served basis. People who are interested should therefore arrive early. For those who come too late or prefer to stay at home there will be live television and radio broadcasts and extensive media coverage of the event is expected.

The current weather forecast for Sunday is cloudy with showers with temperatures ranging from eleven (11) to fifteen (15) degrees Celsius, a thirty percent (30%) chance of rain and a south westerly wind approaching thirty kilometres per hour (30 km/h).

Law enforcement agencies and traffic officers will control the viewing areas. As soon as the viewing and parking areas are full, the area will be closed without warning. Electronic signboards on the freeways will warn motorists when the viewing areas are full. Motorists are urged to respect this and not to drive towards the viewing areas as this will cause major traffic disruptions.

The implosion has generated wide public interest with thousands of people wanting to watch the demolition of the "two ladies of Athlone". The demolition is aimed solely at ensuring public safety. The structures were declared unsafe. A three hundred metre (300m) exclusion zone around the towers will be enforced and anyone found in this area faces arrest. There will also be road closures in the area from one hour before to one hour after the implosion.

The Clyde Pinelands Sports Club is an open field at the end of Ringwood Drive in Pinelands. The City will provide ablution facilities, water points and security at this area, where approximately four thousand (4 000) people can gather and enjoy a picnic atmosphere. As parking is limited at this terrain, spectators must please use legal parking areas in Pinelands and walk to the Sports Club. There are also no shops close by and people must bring their own food. It is expected that the blast will exceed one hundred and thirty five (135) decibels, therefore spectators must provide their own ear plugs.

Rhodes Memorial is situated on Devil's Peak and forms part of Table Mountain National Park. Approximately five hundred (500) people will be able to gather here to view the implosion and there are about sixty (60) dedicated parking spaces available. People are encouraged to bring their own food as the restaurant is currently closed for renovations.

In order to ensure public safety, the City appeals to residents not to gather in large numbers at random throughout the city, but to make use of the two safe viewing areas. No one will be allowed to park or walk on freeways, as this is against the law.

Residents, especially those in or near the area, are advised to plan their day in advance due to road closures and safety rules.

TRANSPORT
No vehicles will be allowed to stop in the exclusion zone prior to the demolition and during the clean-up and restoration. All road closures will be implemented at 11:00 on the day of the demolition.

1. Closure of the N2 freeway
The N2 (Settler's Way) will be closed between the M5 (Black River Parkway) and the M7 (Vanguard Drive) from 11:00 until approximately 13:00. The road will be re-opened as soon as it has been deemed clear and safe for use.

Pinelands residents who need to access Raapenberg Road from the N2 outbound will still be allowed past the roadblock at the M5, but no one will be allowed on the N2 past the Raapenberg turn-off.

No motorists will be allowed on the N2 inbound past Vanguard Drive and the Vanguard Drive off-ramp onto the N2 inbound will be closed. Langa residents will need to use Washington Street at Vanguard Drive to enter and exit Langa.

Alternative routes for the N2
Motorists leaving the city centre are advised to avoid the N2 and to rather travel on the N1, if their destination is east of Athlone. Officers will redirect motorists travelling on the N2 outbound onto the M5 north, from where they can access the N1, and travel back to the N2 via Vanguard Drive.

The City urges residents to make use of this detour and to not travel through the suburbs to access the N2 past Vanguard Drive. Even though the route via the M5 and N1 is a greater distance, it will still be quicker to follow this route than to travel through the suburbs. Using the identified detour will also avoid any traffic problems in urban areas and smaller roads.

2. Closure of the M17 (Jan Smuts Drive)
Jan Smuts Drive will be closed to all traffic (pedestrian and vehicular) between Klipfontein Road in the South and Viking Way in the north from 11:00 until approximately 13:00. The road will be re-opened as soon as it has been deemed clear and safe for use.

People travelling on Jan Smuts Drive from the South towards the N2 will be stopped at Klipfontein Road, but residents of the Bokmakierie and Hazendal areas who need to access their homes via Jan Smuts Drive north of Klipfontein Road will be allowed past the road block. No one will be allowed to travel north on Jan Smuts Drive past 12th Avenue, next to the entrance of the City's Athlone Waste Water Treatment Plant.

In the Pinelands area, no one will be allowed to travel in a southerly direction on Jan Smuts Drive past the Viking Way turn-off.

Alternative routes for the M17
Motorists travelling north on Jan Smuts Drive towards the N2 will be redirected onto Klipfontein Road to access either the M5 in the west to travel towards the N1, or Vanguard Drive in the east to access the N2 towards the airport.

Those travelling on Jan Smuts Drive in a southerly direction from Pinelands will be redirected onto Viking Way, which will take them to Vanguard Drive. Motorists travelling in a westerly direction on Viking Way towards Jan Smuts Drive, will not be able to turn left into Jan Smuts Drive (south), but will be redirected onto Jan Smuts Drive north through Pinelands towards Berkley Road and the M5.

3. Rail closure
Between 11:00 and 14:00, all trains on the Kapteinsklip Line will be rerouted to operate via the Maitland link between Salt River and Mutual, both directions. Once the line has been declared safe, Metrorail will resume the service as per the normal train schedule for the Kapteinsklip Line. Trains on the Cape Flats Line will not be affected by the demolition of the Athlone towers and will operate according to schedule.

Security guards will be deployed between Langa and Pinelands station on the rail line to prevent people from walking along side the rail environment. The Railway Police from the South African Police Service will also be out in full force to prevent any pedestrian crossing the railway lines.

4. Air space closure
The airspace around the Athlone Cooling Towers has been restricted and non-scheduled flight operations by private aircraft are prohibited to operate within these declared restricted areas. The commercial airlines flights will not be affected, however, passengers, shuttles, tour operators and taxis that will be travelling to the airport to depart from Cape Town International Airport are encourage to familiarise themselves with the alternative transportation arrangements and to leave early in order to not miss their flights.
 

SAFETY PLAN
Besides ensuring the safety of residents and redirecting traffic on the demolition day, the various law enforcement agencies will also prevent people from stopping on roads and bridges in an attempt to watch the demolition. It is illegal to park on bridges or on freeways, just as it is illegal for pedestrians to walk along freeways. These laws will be strictly enforced on Sunday 22 August to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and the safety of all residents and motorists.

The entire 300m exclusion zone will be cordoned off with natural boundaries (the Black River), fencing and law enforcement officers to prevent anyone from entering the area. All pedestrian routes that lead to the exclusion zone will also be carefully monitored.

Although a dust cloud is expected after the implosion, the impact should be minimal. The City will take all possible precautionary measures to minimise the dust.

There is no asbestos in the towers.

Residents of the surrounding areas who suffer from medical conditions such as respiratory problems are encouraged to rather stay indoors during the implosion, and for about an hour afterwards.

Residents are also reminded to keep their pets indoors during the blast, or to consult their veterinarians about how to protect them from the noise.

It is expected that the blast will exceed one hundred and thirty five (135) decibels, therefore the public who are planning to watch the implosion and will not be indoors, are urged to use ear plugs. Parents in the surrounding areas are requested to take due care of the health and well-being of their children and take the necessary advisory precautionary measures.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town

Media Enquiries: 

Pieter Cronjé
Director of Communication
City of Cape Town
Cell: 082 465 4965

Wilfred Solomons-Johannes
Project Manager
Disaster Risk Management
Cell: 084 711 7709