The annual SAICE-SAFCEC Awards gala event for the Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievements for 2015/2016 took place on 13 October, with industry leaders and dignitaries from across South Africa in attendance.
- SAICE national and international projects
- SAICE technical divisions’ projects
- SAICE institutional awards
- SAICE-LAFARGE photo competition 2016
Community-based projects
Winner Upgrade of Main Road 104 This R54.4 million project comprised the construction of earthworks, layerworks, drainage, surfacing and retaining structures on Main Road P104 in Shakaskraal, KZN from kilometre 9.923 to kilometre 15. Naidu Consulting, together with contractors Crossmoor Transport maximised opportunities to benefit the local community, even to the implementation of a local kerb manufacturing yard. Commendation Hlambanyathi River Bridge Royal HaskoningDHV was appointed to construct the R16.5 million Hlambanyathi River Bridge in KwaZulu-Natal in order to provide a quicker and safer access road for the local community. In joint venture with emerging contractor Mzansi Africa, and Icon Construction, it provided a training programme for unskilled workers. A variety of associated transportation projects also provided additional work in the area. Commendation Construction of Community Infrastructure in the Southern Region – eThekwini Municipality With a project budget of R20.2 million Nathoo Mbenyane Engineers, with main contractor Afrocon Construction, was appointed to develop accesses and footpaths and to formalise existing sidewalks and footpaths in disadvantaged communities in eThekwini Municipality. Labour-intensive construction methods were used to provide for job creation, skills transfer and contracts for emerging contractors.Technical Excellence projects
Winner Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme The multi-billion rand Ingula project is a peaking hydro-power station comprising an upper and lower reservoir separated in elevation by 480 metres within the Little Drakensburg mountain range. This project involving Gibb, Royal HaskoningDHV and Knight Piésold as the consulting engineers, has already contributed to stabilising the South African power system. When complete, it will house four 333 megawatt Francis-type pumps or turbines and motor generators in its underground powerhouse complex 116 storeys underground. Commendation Rehabilitation of the N2 from Umlaas Canal to EB Cloete Interchange The 14 kilometre section of the N2 from the EB Cloete Interchange, southwards to the old Durban Airport is due to be fully upgraded within the next few years. In the interim, however, SANRAL required the cracked surface to be reinstated. Although the project was initially only for the reinstatement of the asphalt surfacing layer of up to nine lanes, this was extended to include the ramps and crossings at two major interchanges. The professional team comprised Naidu Consulting and WBHO. Commendation Ashley Drive Break Pressure Tank The Ashley Drive Break Pressure Tank in Hillcrest, Durban limits water pressures in eThekwini Municipality’s Western Aqueduct to 25 bar so that the potentially destructive energy in the pipeline can be safely and economically controlled. Maximum operating pressures had to be mitigated by ‘reverse engineering’, devising a unique inlet system that could avoid overpressure and overflow under the most rapid system changes. With Knight Piésold, Naidu Consulting and Royal HaskoningDHV, the BPT’s operating system was designed by first principles since there is no known similar modulating system for large BPTs.International projects of excellence where South African engineers are involved
Winner Mokhotlong-Sani Pass Road Project To complement the upgrade of the Sani Pass Road on the South African side, Lesotho commissioned a new road to replace the 46 km gravel road between Mokhotlong and Sani Pass at a cost of R786 million. Battling challenging terrain and weather conditions, Aurecon and China Geo-Engineering Corporation International saw that the route now provides all-weather access to the general public in standard vehicles. Commendation Kasane-Kazungula Villages Sanitation Project A R586 million combined gravity and vacuum-based system improved the sanitation system in the northern part of Botswana in two villages which form an important tourist hub. Designed by Aurecon, and involving subcontractor Unik Construction Engineering, the final design is believed to be the largest vacuum system of its kind in the world and consists of five vacuum stations and 50 km of vacuum pipe. Commendation Senqu River Bridge The 140 metre-long Senqu River Bridge and associated approach roads create a vital link to business and trading opportunities for the residents of Phamong in southern Lesotho. The R150 million project involved SMEC, Elite Consulting and Stefanutti Stocks Lesotho and will positively affect the area’s economy.Saice division awards
Environmental Engineering Division: Transport Management Plan for the EcoMobility World Festival MPA Consulting Engineers compiled and implemented the Transport Management Plan for the EcoMobility Festival for the City of Johannesburg. It provided travellers in Sandton with an opportunity to utilise different, more sustainable modes of transport. Despite the challenges of providing alternative transport to car users, the project showed that public transport could be prioritised over private transport on major corridors. Geotechnical Engineering Division: New Old Mutual Head Office, Sandton The construction of the new R129 million head offices for Old Mutual in Sandton involved WSP Engineers, AECOM Quantity Surveyors, Coffey Projects, Franki Africa and Zero Azania. Situated directly over the Gautrain tunnel this brought challenges for blasting and foundation work.Railway and Harbour Division: Reconstruction and deepening of Maydon Wharf Berths 1–4, 13 & 14
The R760 million rehabilitation of berths at Maydon Wharf in Durban harbour consisted of demolishing the existing quay structure, the removal of old timber piles, installing a new steel combination wall with concrete cope beam and back of quay layer works. A first for South Africa, the Müller Verpress Pile was used as an alternative to the traditional dead man anchor solution by project team Transnet Capital Projects, RCE Consultants and Stefanutti Stocks Axsys JV. Project Management and Construction Division: Construction of community infrastructure in the southern region – eThekwini Municipality With a project budget of R20.2 million Nathoo Mbenyane Engineers, with main contractor Afrocon Construction, was appointed to develop accesses and footpaths and to formalise existing sidewalks and footpaths in disadvantaged communities in eThekwini Municipality. Labour-intensive construction methods were used to provide for job creation, skills transfer and contracts for emerging contractors. Structural Engineering Division: Pacaltsdorp Pedestrian Bridge The 65 metre-long continuous four-span self-anchored arch supported stress ribbon Pacaltsdorp footbridge in George enables pedestrians from the Pacaltsdorp township access to work opportunities in George and surrounds. For SMEC South Africa the challenge was to create a design that attracts pedestrians towards the bridge, and away from the highway. Transportation Engineering Division: Mokhotlong–Sani Pass Road Project To complement the upgrade of the Sani Pass Road on the South African side, Lesotho commissioned a new road to replace the 46 km gravel road between Mokhotlong and Sani Pass at a cost of R786 million. Battling challenging terrain and weather conditions, Aurecon and China Geo-Engineering Corporation International saw that the route now provides all-weather access to the general public in standard vehicles. Water Engineering Division: Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme The multi-billion rand Ingula project is a peaking hydro-power station comprising an upper and lower reservoir separated in elevation by 480 metres within the Little Drakensburg mountain range. This project involving Gibb, Royal HaskoningDHV and Knight Piésold as the consulting engineers, has already contributed to stabilising the South African power system. When complete, it will house four 333 megawatt Francis-type pumps or turbines and motor generators in its underground powerhouse complex 116 storeys underground
