Du Toitskloof Western Cape
Awarded 1994

The environment came first on the Du Toitskloof road contract.

A tourist attraction of rare scenic beauty, the Du Toitskloof valley is drained by the Molenaars river, a special standards river owing to its exceptional quality of water. The indigenous vegetation is fynbos. Stringent constraints were imposed to protect both, and the road was designed to blend into the landscape. Visual impact, landscaping, and revegetation all received special attention leading to the project receiving SAICE’s Western Cape Branch Award for Civil Engineering Excellence and a Special Commendation in the National Award for the Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement.

Innovative design and construction methods, combined with good cooperation between team members, ensured minimal, environmental and traffic impact.

RESA played its part by providing 15 400m2 of Reinforced Earth median and river fronting retaining walls and abutments to a road over the river bridge.

The panels were cast with coarse, exposed aggregate facings similar in color and texture to the surrounding mountains.

 The river fronting structures were designed for a river velocity of 5m/sec and large boulders placed along the toe of the structure prevented scour and erosion. Since the construction of Reinforced Earth structures takes place from behind its facing, the river was protected from silt pollution during the construction.

Project details:

Client: SANRAL/ SARB

Engineer: BKS/AECOM

Contractor: Savage and Lovemore