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Upgrading of George South Stormwater Infrastructure – Phase 1 post 2021 floods

In the photo above Chris Jacobs from RWC Construction is on site in Hope Street with the upgrading of George South Stormwater Infrastructure,  Phase 1 post the 2021 floods. With him is Mayor Jackie von Brandis and Cllr Browen Johnson, MMC for Civil Engineering Services.

George Municipality started with upgrades following the November/ December 2021 disaster flood and received R63,3 million to implement the first phase of the upgrading of the George South stormwater infrastructure. Hope Street has been completed and re-opened, although work continues adjacent to Hope Street, and there will be various road reinstatement work in Merriman, Palgrave and Newton Streets.  The project includes the replacement of stormwater pipelines, junction boxes, catchpits, inlet structures, outlet structures, portal culverts and the construction of detention ponds. Two properties had to be expropriated to ensure that the works could proceed.

Construction commenced on 20 March 2024 and the anticipated completion date is 20 November 2024 despite the complexity of the project, as well as rainfall that have caused delays. Because of the significant impact of the project on residents and all road users, regular updates have been provided on the municipal social media platforms and by the Public Liaison Officer who liaises directly with the affected residents.

Detention Pond

The function of the new detention ponds is to attenuate the stormwater thereby reducing the outflow rate into the downstream municipal stormwater infrastructure.  Between rainfall events the detention ponds will be empty. Security fencing will be constructed around the detention ponds to improve public safety. The construction of the main detention pond between Hope and Newton Streets is approximately 71% complete, and the smaller detention pond adjacent to Hope Street is 90% complete.

Portal Culverts

A new 460 m long portal culvert that is 2.4m wide x 1.5m high is being constructed in the road reserve along Merriman, Palgrave and Newton Streets to replace the old culvert.

The culvert construction is approximately 82% complete and only 14 pre-cast culvert units remains to be placed in their final position in Palgrave Street.

Stormwater and pipelines

The existing stormwater pipelines will be cleaned and approximately 500m of new underground pipelines will be constructed. Approximately 79% has been completed and the manholes and catchpits are approximately 44% complete.

Roadworks and access

All road layer works and residential access driveways, will be reinstated along the alignment of the new stormwater culvert and pipelines.

 

Photos:

On site in Hope Street are Mayor Jackie von Brandis, Cllr Browen Johnson, MMC for Civil Engineering Services and Everton Manewil from RWC Construction. On the far left is Gerald Bewee from George Municipality Law Enforcement.

The main detention pond in Hope Street. The function of the new detention ponds is to slow down the stormwater outflow into the downstream municipal stormwater infrastructure.