Fabric containers used to divert Orange river for bridge-widening project

27th October 2017

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

     

Font size: - +

To facilitate the implementation of a bridge-widening project in the Northern Cape, engineered fabrics company Kaytech used its geotextile containers to assist in redirecting part of the Orange river to allow pile-driving equipment access to riverside infrastructure.

Increased traffic on the N12 highway between Kimberley and Hopetown prompted the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to undertake a project to widen the road and add another lane to the bridge spanning the Orange river.

Engineering consultancy BVi Consulting Engineers was awarded the contract.

Creating a suitable platform for pile-driving equipment access alongside the bridge necessitated temporarily diverting the river. So project contractor Botes & Kennedy approached Kaytech for a cost-effective, reliable solution to create the necessary barrier.

For this particular project, Kaytech recommended using open-top Geobags, called GeoRevet S120/SF1.2 (capable of holding 1 m3 of material) for the embankment consolidation. Each bag is manufactured from a composite geotextile consisting of a staple fibre fleece needled onto a woven tape geotextile to create a strong, robust, low-elongation geobag with good filtration and drainage properties.

To facilitate filling with a granular material, the open top of each bag has a bidim filling spout sleeve, which is then rolled up, strapped closed and inserted into the GeoRevet bag after filling. The GeoRevet Geobag is then laced closed through the premanufactured eyelets using the cord provided.

Each bag was supplied with four webbing lifting straps at each corner, which are sewn around the full circumference of the bag for extra lifting stability and strength.

The project required 1 000 GeoRevet Geobags to help create the piling platform structure. The ease of handling and filling of the bags was a significant advantage during the process of diverting the river, according to Kaytech.

It is envisioned that completion of the entire Sanral project, together with the extra lane added to the bridge, will result in a significant easing of traffic congestion along this stretch of the N12, which is about 127 km long.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

The functionality you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION