- Cape Town is testing wind nets along Baden Powell Drive to reduce sand buildup.
- If successful, the project will decrease road closures and maintenance costs.
- The public is urged to support the project by avoiding interference with the nets.
The City of Cape Town’s Roads Infrastructure Management Department is collaborating with the Coastal Management Branch on a pilot project to trial the use of wind nets along Baden Powell Drive.
This intervention will attempt to limit windblown sand impacting on and resulting in the closure of Baden Powell Drive during the summer season when the south-easter wind is at its fiercest. The trial commenced last month and will be maintained until May.
“This sand management intervention pilot project entails the strategic placement of wind nets to trap sand closer to the sea and assist in managing the accumulated sand before it reaches Baden Powell Drive,” says Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews.
“This method has proven to be successful in other parts of Cape Town such as at Hout Bay where it has been used for several years to keep Promenade Road free of sand. If successful, the portion of road where the intervention is implemented should remain free of sand eliminating the need to close this section of road due to wind-blown sand accumulation, as well as reducing the maintenance burden and costs to the City’s Roads Department,” adds Mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas.
Trial project
The trial sand management intervention includes:
- The mechanical removal of excess stockpiled sand at Sonwabe which is a significant contributing factor in itself.
- Installation and maintenance of wind nets placed perpendicular to the predominant south-easter wind direction on the eastern side of Sonwabe parallel with Baden Powell Drive, seaward of the parking area at Sonwabe, and directly parallel with Baden Powell Drive.
- Wind nets will be open ended, thus allowing pedestrian access to the beach and will also aid in keeping the parking area clear of sand.
- Annually or biannually the accumulated sand will be pushed back to sea and the nets reinstated, depending on the severity of the windy season.
The public are asked to support this pilot project and not interfere with the nets at Sonwabe.
“If this project is successful, it could be the solution to ensuring that the connectivity along Baden Powell is maintained during the upcoming festive season“ says Quintas.
