The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has awarded Engineering and infrastructure consultancy firm SMEC South Africa contract to provide consulting engineering services for the commissioning of the Huguenot Tunnel project.
The Huguenot Tunnel project, located on the N1 freeway (Section 1) approximately 60km north-east of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province is a toll tunnel that passes through the Du Teusclof mountain range that separates Pal and Worcester.
SANRAL pointed out the need to modernize the Huguenot tunnel and cited the European directive on road tunnel safety, point 2.1.2 EU/2004/54/EG. This clause states that when a 15-year traffic forecast shows that the volume will exceed 10 000 vehicles per day per lane, a twin-tube tunnel with unidirectional traffic shall be in place.
The tunnel support infrastructure includes the toll station, the main control center building and the tunnel portal building that contain a wide range of electrical, electronic and mechanical systems required for tunnel and toll control and operation the tunnel and toll plaza.
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Scope of work
SMEC South Africa’s scope of work for the North Bore and South Bore includes preliminary design, detailed design, and procurement and construction supervision. The period for planning and procurement phase takes 15 months, and the construction takes 55 months.
Works on the North Bore will include concrete lining; double-lane coverage, permanent reinforcement through drainage and related services; electricity, ventilation and fire-fighting systems and upgrades to the highway on either side of the North Bore, including the design of the new Elands River Bridge and widening of the existing Molenaars River Bridge to accommodate the two additional lanes to the North Bore.
Renovation works to the South Bore, depends on the status of a current rehabilitation contract. It aims to eliminate moisture intrusion and structural integrity, and to restore fire-prone areas. Additionally, SMEC South Africa will be responsible for the design, procurement and construction supervision of two ventilation buildings and two operations buildings with related backup facilities.
“We are honored that SANRAL has signed this contract with us. This project is South Africa’s most iconic structures and one of our major achievement having previously provided structural design and geotechnical services in the early 1980s. We look forward to collaborating with SANRAL to deliver a safe, aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sensitive and modern road tunnel,” said SMEC South Africa Regional Manager, Western Cape, and Functional General Manager, Roads and Highways, Jaco Engelbrecht.
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