To ensure the safety of nearby residents and the general public, an exclusion zone of 300 metres will be enforced around the Athlone Cooling Towers when both towers are demolished by implosion at noon on Sunday 22 August 2010.

Part of the N2 and the M17 (Jan Smuts Drive), as well as the Metrorail line between Langa and Pinelands station fall within this exclusion zone and will therefore be closed for part of the day. Other road closures may be necessary to avoid gridlock in the area.

Officers from City Law Enforcement Services, Metro Police, City Traffic Services, Provincial Traffic Services as well as the South African Police Services (SAPS) will be deployed to ensure public safety, enforce road closures and traffic rules, and re-direct motorists to alternative routes.

No-one will be allowed in the exclusion zone. All possible measures are being taken to ensure that the debris will not spread. The exclusion zone is, however, an essential precautionary measure.

Transport

No vehicles will be allowed to stop in the exclusion zone prior to the demolition and during the clean-up and restoration. All road closures will be implemented at 11:00 on the day of the demolition.

Closure of the N2 freeway

The N2 (Settler’s Way) will be closed between the M5 (Black River Parkway) and the M7 (Vanguard Drive) from 11:00 until 13:00.

Only Pinelands’ residents who need to access Raapenberg Road from the N2 outbound will be allowed past the road block at the M5.

No motorists will be allowed on the N2 inbound past Vanguard Drive. Langa residents will need to use Washington Street at Vanguard Drive to enter and exit Langa.

Alternative routes for the N2

Motorists leaving the city centre are advised to use the N1 instead of the N2. Officers will redirect motorists travelling on the N2 outbound onto the M5 north, from where they can access the N1, and travel back to the N2 via Vanguard Drive.

Closure of the M17 (Jan Smuts Drive)

Jan Smuts Drive will be closed to all traffic (pedestrian and vehicular) between Klipfontein Road in the south and Viking Way in the north from 11:00 until 13:00.

People travelling on Jan Smuts Drive from the south towards the N2 will be stopped at Klipfontein Road, but residents of the Bokmakierie and Hazendal areas who need to access their homes via Jan Smuts Drive north of Klipfontein Road will be allowed past the road block. No one will be allowed to travel north on Jan Smuts Drive past 12th Avenue, next to the entrance of the City’s Athlone Waste Water Treatment Plant.

In the Pinelands area, no one will be allowed to travel in a southerly direction on Jan Smuts Drive past the Viking Way turn-off.

Alternative routes for the M17

Motorists travelling north on Jan Smuts Drive towards the N2 will be redirected onto Klipfontein Road to access either the M5 in the west to travel towards the N1, or Vanguard Drive in the east to access the N2 towards the airport.

Those travelling on Jan Smuts Drive in a southerly direction from Pinelands will be redirected onto Viking Way, which will take them to Vanguard Drive. Motorists travelling in a westerly direction on Viking Way towards Jan Smuts Drive, will not be able to turn left into Jan Smuts Drive (south), but will be redirected onto Jan Smuts Drive north through Pinelands towards Berkley Road and the M5.

Rail closure

Between 11:00 and 14:00, all trains on the Kapteinsklip Line will be rerouted to operate via the Maitland link between Salt River and Mutual, both directions.
Security guards will be deployed between Langa and Pinelands station on the rail line to prevent people from walking along side the rail environment. The Railway Police from the South African Police Service will also be out in full force to prevent any pedestrian crossing the railway lines.

Air space closure

The airspace around the Athlone Cooling Towers has been restricted and non-scheduled flight operations by private aircraft are prohibited to operate within these declared restricted areas. Although commercial airlines flights will not be affected, passengers, shuttles, tour operators and taxis that will be travelling to Cape Town International Airport are encourage to familiarise themselves with the alternative transportation arrangements and to leave early so that they don’t miss their flights.

Safety plan

In order to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and the safety of residents and motorists, law enforcement agencies will prevent people from stopping on roads and bridges in an attempt to watch the demolition

The entire 300m exclusion zone will be cordoned off with natural boundaries (the Black River), fencing and law enforcement officers to prevent anyone from entering the area. All pedestrian routes that lead to the exclusion zone will also be carefully monitored.

Although a dust cloud is expected after the implosion, the impact should be minimal. The City will take all possible precautionary measures to minimise the dust.

The public is reminded that there is no asbestos in the towers.
Residents of the surrounding areas who suffer from medical conditions such as respiratory problems are encouraged to stay indoors during the implosion, and for about an hour afterwards. Residents are also reminded to keep their pets indoors during the blast, or to consult their veterinarians about how to protect them from the noise.

As the blast will exceed 135 decibels, members of the public who are planning to watch the implosion are urged to use ear plugs. Parents in the surrounding areas are requested to take due care of the health and well-being of their children and take the necessary advisory precautionary measures.