| Major advancements achieved with the R292 million Sir Lowry's Pass River upgrade currently under way | Major advancements achieved with the R292 million Sir Lowry's Pass River upgrade currently under way | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div>In an effort to reduce flooding, the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has invested just over R292 million into a major upgrade of the Sir Lowry’s Pass River. One year since the upgrades started in February 2023, significant work has already been made, and the City is on schedule to be finished in 2026.</div><div><br></div> | <p>Originating at an elevation of around 1 200 meters above sea level in the Hottentots Holland Mountain Nature Reserve, the Sir Lowry's Pass River is about 12 kilometres long.<br></p><p>The river has been divided into three regions based on its vertical alignment: </p><ul><li>Upper region (upper 1km), which is distinguished by incredibly steep slopes because of the surrounding mountains; </li><li>middle region (approximately 8km), which flows through hills, fynbos, vineyards, and Sir Lowry's Pass Village; and</li><li>lower region (approximately 3km), which is the base flow channel below the N2 highway before entering False Bay.</li></ul>Because of the kind of mountains that surround the river, the region has concentrated downpours for brief periods of time, which leaves the river vulnerable to severe flooding.<br><br>The extensive upgrades entail berm construction, grade leveling, and rectification of the Sir Lowry's River's alignment between the N2 in the north and False Bay (Indian Ocean). This will open up land for development and drastically lower the risk of flooding.<br><br>The construction of bridges, erosion control measures like riprap, gabions, berms, and small concrete structures, the creation of Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) Facility pathways, service provision, landscaping, and the demolition of various walls and structures are all included in the upgrade.<br><br>By upgrading the area, the Gordons Bay community will be protected from future flooding and significant tracts of undeveloped land will become available for residential development.<br><br>'With its ongoing programmes for river maintenance and upgrades, the City is making incredible progress. There are similar flood alleviation projects, namely the Lourens, Geelsloot, Macassar rivers and Soet River Detention Ponds Projects, with investments into these initiatives and other projects City-wide costing over R122,23 million for the 2023/2024 financial year,' said the Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.<br><br> <br><strong>End</strong><br><p><br></p> | 2024-02-12T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#c1e12656-7d70-488e-897e-6465b138e2f4;L0|#0c1e12656-7d70-488e-897e-6465b138e2f4|River management;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | Media Office, City of Cape Town | 0 |
