Projects with a value between R250 million and R1 billion
Upgrading of National COMMENDATION Route 7, Section 1 between Atlantis South and Kalbaskraal by AECOM for SANRAL, Western Cape
T
he upgrading of National
that all the existing at-grade accesses
Route 7 from Atlantis South
had to be closed and reconciled to
(26.3 km) to Kalbaskraal
an improved secondary road network
(39.1 km) in the north of Cape
that links to the N7 via grade-separated
Town comprised the transforming of the
interchanges. This had a significant
single highway to a dual carriageway as
impact on the surrounding landowners,
well as the creation of six interchanges and
communities and the other roads
five underpasses.
authorities.
This project formed part of SANRAL’s
A public liaison included in the
PROJECT TEAM
Client: SANRAL Main Consultant: AECOM Subconsultant: ERO Engineers Environmental Consultants: SLR Consulting (design stage) & JG Afrika (construction stage) Main Contractor: Haw & Inglis Civil Engineering Piling Subcontractor: Keller-Africa
broader upgrading programme for the
environmental authorisation process
main highway between the Melkbosstrand
allowed for feedback from the
and Hopefield intersections, which links
local landowners and communities
Cape Town with the Namibia international
being impacted by the proposed N7
were developed until the preferred
border towards the north.
upgrading. In the scoping phase of the
road network was adopted. This process
environmental authorisation process, a
took nearly two years of planning
range of alternative road network plans
and negotiation.
The upgrading of the N7 to a dual carriageway with freeway status meant
Land acquisition for the route widening and access roads, with a resulting impact on properties, was one of the main risks that had to be managed during planning, design and construction. A huge focus was placed upon the social and ecological impact of the project; local communities were part of the labour force and local enterprises were also used wherever possible. There were also ecological restoration efforts aimed to preserve biodiversity management and the endemic fynbos ecosystem. The vastly improved infrastructure gave the local community safer and improved connectivity around the north of Cape Town (addressing medium- and long-term traffic demands) while the creation of smaller access roads improved connectivity to farmers in the area.
8
C E S A A o n E n g i n e e r i n g E x c e l l e n c e Aw a r d s 2 0 2 1