Construction work on Durban’s Western Aqueduct bulk water pipeline, worth more than R700 million, will be in progress by 2015. To date, 7,5km of the 55km second phase has been completed and the entire project is well on track for its expected completion in 2017.
Photo: Work on the 20 mega litre Break Pressure Tank at Ashley Drive is progressing well
“Four contracts along the full length of the pipeline have been awarded and work on each is well underway,” said Neil Macleod, head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS). Two additional contracts – one for the Wyebank reservoir and another for a spur pipeline going from the main pipeline to Mount Moriah and Tshelimnyama – are expected to be awarded by year end.
The Western Aqueduct is Durban’s largest ever bulk water pipeline project and is intended to both replace and augment existing infrastructure that brings water from various dams surrounding Durban into the growing city.
“The Western Aqueduct is intended to provide an additional injection of much needed water to the Durban Municipal area and provide for the bulk water distribution needs of the area for the next 30 years. The completed WA is expected to significantly strengthen the capacity of bulk water supply to the western regions of eThekwini,” said Macleod.
The first phase of the Western Aqueduct measures 20km, beginning at the Umlaas Road Reservoir and ending at Inchanga. This was completed at the end of 2010. However, the full effect of this first phase will only be felt once the second phase has been commissioned. This stretches between Inchanga Station and Ntuzuma with spur pipelines going to Mount Moriah and Tshelimnyama.
see the WA pipeline cross underneath
this busy thoroughfare en route to the
Ashley Drive Break Pressure Tank.
The estimated overall cost for the Western Aqueduct Phase 2 and associated branch pipelines is R 1.8 billion in present day terms.
The contract for the third and largest segment of the pipeline reaching from Ashley Drive to the NR5 Reservoir at Ntuzuma was awarded to Esor Construction earlier this year. As this is a 25km stretch of the pipeline, work has commenced at three fronts in Kloof, KwaDukuza and Ntuzuma. So far, 0.5km of pipeline has been laid.
Disruption of major thoroughfares such as Everton, Pioneer and Wyebank Roads as well as a number of other minor roads is expected. Esor will divert traffic wherever possible and keep residents and road users informed of road closures and detours.
Bright confirmed that work on the 20 mega litre break pressure tank at Ashley Drive had been awarded to Icon Construction. The duration of the contract is one year with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2015. At this point, earthworks are complete and the commencement of concrete works is imminent.
The contract for the spur pipeline to Tshelinyama went out to tender three weeks ago and is expected to be awarded during the fourth quarter of 2014. The duration of the contract is expected to be 16 months.
The tender for construction of the Wyebank Reservoir and the spur pipeline to Mount Moriah is due to go out in the fourth quarter of this year with construction expected to commence at the beginning of 2015.