The completion of an R80 slope stabilisation engineeringproject in Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan region, Eastern Cape, has prevented the risk of damage to powercables and related blackouts in Uitenhage.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) said that the instability of the R75 on-ramp into Uitenhage had been undermining the structural integrity of pylons carrying overhead electricalcables supplying large areas of Uitenhage with power.
The project entailed the excavation of 112 000 m3 of soil, construction of 5,700 m3 of gabions in three continuous walls along the R75 on-ramp inclusive of grouted soil nails, construction drains at the top of the walls, and the installation of drains conveying stormwater runoff down the slope to the existing drainage system.
The project also involved the construction of an earth catch water bank at the summit of the slope to prevent overland flow from the summit flowing down the cut face.
The project created 216 employment opportunities for 13 small and medium-sized enterprises over a 15-month contract period. Training in tendering and pricing, safety, health and environmental aspects, concrete skills and first aid was also provided.
