Major intersection upgrade to serve Sunningdale expansion

IN preparation for the construction of residential, community housing and commercial developments in Sunningdale Phases 12A, 13 and 14 opposite the Table Bay Mall in Cape Town’s western suburbs, major work to upgrade the R27 and Big Bay & Berkshire Boulevards intersection is underway.

Undertaking this R44-million plus intersection upgrade is Baseline Construction on behalf of the developers, Garden Cities NPC who are covering the cost as part of its Services Agreement with the City in lieu of development contributions.

The project is expected to take 60 weeks and the scope of work is extensive besides roadway improvements which involve the addition of lanes and partial duelling of the respective roads approaching the intersection.

A portion of a new bulk stormwater pipeline will also be constructed which in future will route stormwater runoff from Sunningdale Phases 12A, 13 and 14 to the existing Big Bay outfall pipeline located at the eastern boundary of Big Bay.

Upgrade of the intersection

The scope of Baseline’s scope of work will include the construction of:

• Additional lanes on all the intersecting roads; namely the R27, Berkshire Boulevard and Big Bay Boulevard. This will include the installation of the following:
  • Kurbing, channelling and concrete edging;
  • Asphalt surfaced pavements;
  • Road marking and road signs;
  • Non-motorised transport facilities on Berkshire Boulevard and Big Bay Boulevard;
  • Road drainage such as stormwater catchpits, pipelines, manholes, subsoil drains and roadside channel;
• Stormwater side drain along the R27 western verge;
• Street lighting and additional services sleeves;
• Relocation of telecommunication services, irrigation pipelines and valves, fence line, etc.;
• Other road construction related tasks.

Bulk stormwater pipeline

The extent of work covered under the construction of the bulk stormwater pipeline consists of construction of approximately 300m of 1050mm diameter concrete pipes and manholes.

The pipe excavation depth of the bulk pipeline ranges from 1,5m at the inlet, increasing rapidly to a depth of 4,2m at the termination point. The project necessitates the use of a form of shoring for the pipe excavations due to the deep excavation depths and restricted working space. The pipeline crossing the R27 was installed by means of trenchless technology with a cover of 1.94m – 2.34m to the road finish level.

Planned developments

Garden Cities Group Manager: Engineering & Planning Renier Smith outlined the extent of the development.

• Sunningdale Phases 12 – Linked to approximately 663 SR (Single residential)Erven and various Group Housing, Local Business and Community sites. Phase 12 is almost completed in terms of the SR, with a couple of General Residential, General Business and Community zoned sites remaining.
• Sunningdale Phase 13A – 429 Units (aka Northridge Coastal Estate) has commenced with the perimeter fencing/walling of the Green Star, Sustainable Precinct now in place and the clubhouse, guard house and admin building nearing completion. The first scheme has commenced after which others will follow at a rate of units being completed at between 8 to 16 units per month; depending on the building programme.
• Sunningdale Phase 13B – 5.3ha Group Housing Site
• Sunningdale Phase 13C – 95 SR Erven 
• Phase 14 in its various sub-phases consists of 775 SR Erven, 8 Group Housing Sites (ranging between 1.5 ha to 2.5 ha), a General Business site, Local Business Site and various Community zoned sites.
• Sunningdale Phase 13A – Northridge Coastal Estate. 
• Sunningdale Phase 13B – The Group Housing scheme is still in planning stage with no confirmed project and/or timeline. 
• Sunningdale Phase 13C and 14 – Commencement in line with our building programme.

Garden Cities Group CEO, John Matthews, says that since its establishment 103 years ago, the company has adhered to a strategy that incorporates constant change to maintain its leading role on the Western Cape’s development landscape and to stay ahead of shifting economic conditions.  

Among the achievements is being the first South African developer to receive the Green Building Council of SA’s (GBCSA) 4-star Green Star-rating for a Sustainable Precinct Development, Northridge Coastal Estate, in Sunningdale.

Through research into alternative building materials, Garden Cities has also been able to control construction costs and keep the price of the houses down, by manufacturing the innovative Benex blocks and panels used in the houses at the Greenville Garden City development.

And in Sunningdale on the West Coast, which has been the company’s flagship for nearly 30 years, changes in Garden Cities’ town planning have spawned a new offering of apartments and town houses. The homes at Saint Square for example, are within financial reach of first-time buyers and others looking for more affordable accommodation.

Saint Square is also aligned to green building principles in the construction as well as water re-use and recovery technology that irrigates the indigenous landscaping. Homes have solar thermal systems.