Fwd: P/P: W57: MEDIA RELEASE: Plans well underway for demolition of Athlone cooling towers
Trevor Hughes
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
MEDIA RELEASE
15 MARCH 2010
Plans well underway for demolition of Athlone cooling towers
If everything goes according to plan, the ‘two ladies of Athlone’ will
be demolished on Sunday 30 May 2010.
Following structural damage to one of the Athlone cooling towers
during the early hours of Sunday 14 February 2010, consulting
structural engineers were immediately appointed to assess the damage
and advise the City on what steps should be taken. As the stabilising
rings around one of the towers, which had been fitted as additional
safety measure almost 20 years ago, fell to the ground, the consulting
engineers recommended that the towers be demolished as soon as
possible.
Although immediate collapse was found to be unlikely, it is possible
that one or both of the towers could collapse in high winds. It was
therefore strongly recommended that both towers be demolished before
winter’s North Westerly winds start to blow.
The City accepted the recommendation and immediately proceeded to plan
the demolition process. Consulting engineers have been appointed to
oversee the project and have been tasked to do another detailed
assessment of the site following the initial assessment of 14
February. This report and the tender documents will be finalised
within the next few weeks.
The time-lines for the process are tentatively given as follows. The
tender for the demolition of the towers will be advertised in the
beginning of April and will close approximately three weeks later,
where after the contractor will be appointed by the City. The planned
date for the demolition of the two iconic towers, if everything goes
according to plan, is on 30 May 2010. Between now and then, however,
the towers are being carefully monitored for further collapse or
damage.
In the meantime, various role players and affected parties are being
consulted for their input in the demolition process, which includes a
baseline environmental assessment. The demolition will be commissioned
through the City’s Supply Chain Management Department in conjunction
with the Electricity Department. Arrangements are being made for the
water and electricity services located in the vicinity of the towers
to be temporarily disconnected and protected during the demolition
period.
Alderman Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services,
said that he would like the event to be planned in such a way as to
give surrounding communities, as well as all interested Capetonians,
the opportunity to witness the historic demolition of these two iconic
towers from a safe distance.
A detailed plan, involving all Traffic and Emergency Services, is
being prepared for the event and surrounding roads, including the N2
and Jan Smuts Drive, are likely to be closed for a short period during
the actual demolition. The Airports Company of South Africa will be
consulted to decide upon a period of closure of the N2 that will cause
minimal disruption to traffic heading to and from the airport. Further
public information indicating safe viewing areas will be communicated
in due course. The South African Police Services and the Metro Police
will be on hand to ensure everyone’s safety.
The site clearing process is expected to be completed at the end of
August. However, site clearing work could be affected by the FIFA 2010
World Cup, as well as the winter rains and possible localised
flooding, therefore this date is at this stage, still an estimate.
The City has already started a process to define future development
options on the site and progress is well underway. This work was
presented to the City’s Utility Services Portfolio Committee in 2009
and will be the subject of a public participation process in the near
future.
End
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Alderman Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member:
Utility Services. Tel: 021 400 1206 or Cell: 083 628 4136
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