Construction World May 2015

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

AQUEDUCT nearing completion

Phases of

Ednick Msweli, newly appointed head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) confirmed this week that the two multi-million rand contracts that make up a portion of the Northern Aqueduct Augmentation (NAA) are expected to be complete in the fourth quarter this year. This includes a 6 km section of the pipeline that begins at Duffs Road and ends at the Phoenix 2 reservoir and a 22 km segment of the pipeline that stretches from the Phoenix 2 Reservoir in Phoenix, continues to Waterloo and then to Umhlanga with a feed to the planned new Blackburn reservoir. The current Northern Aqueduct has reached capacity on various sections of the trunk mains as a result of growth in demand. As a result, although there is sufficient water to meet current needs, there is not sufficient network capacity to deliver it to areas that need it most. Construction of the NAA will resolve this. Msweli said that the NAA, which comprises seven individual projects, would not be constructed in linear fashion. Segments in areas of critical need will be put in place first. He confirmed that, by the end of the year, the pipeline to the Waterloo Reservoir will be complete. “This will alleviate the water shortages and rationing currently being experienced in the Phoenix and Waterloo areas. These areas currently receive water from Hazelmere Dam which is low. We will be able to reroute water to compensate for this.” Construction of R250-million worth of urgently needed bulk water infrastructure in the northern part of the eThekwini region is nearing completion. >

Excavating the trench along which the 1,2 m diameter water pipe will be laid to allow sufficient bulk water to supply the northern parts of Durban.

Martin Bright, project manager for the NAA, said that the actual construction of these two contracts was complex with special meas- ures being taken to accommodate residents, preserve environmen- tally sensitive flora and rehabilitate excavation sites. Although a large portion of the pipeline has been routed through sugar cane fields, a critical portion does traverse busy residential areas, crossing busy thoroughfares. He urged residents to be patient

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as EWS worked to alleviate the water shortages that are currently causing concern. He said motorists could expect traffic interruptions over the next two months along Phoenix Highway. As the road is not wide, construction has to extend into the road. Bright added that EWS had already commissioned consult- ants to undertake the Environ- mental Impact Assessment and design of the link from Reser- voir Hills (also known as Durban Heights) to Duffs Road. This will go out to tender in early 2016. Construction of the 30 month long contract is expected to start in mid-2016. This, too, will entail an extremely complex construc- tion process that involves excava- tion and laying of a 1,2 m diameter steel pipe along a route of approx- imately 15 kms.

The bulk water pipe has been laid in the excavated area in the centre of the Phoenix Highway.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD MAY 2015