AECOM SHOWCASES ITS DIGITAL DESIGN CAPABILITY ON MALMESBURY BYPASS
AECOM has used the latest digital tools to fast-track the final design of the new R45 link between the N7 and R46 at Malmesbury for the Department of Infrastructure in the Western Cape . “ The advanced design process commenced in 2022 . Our full suite of digital tools played a major role in getting the project up to speed ,” explains Nabeel Omar , Technical Director : Highways and Transportation Lead , Western Cape .
AECOM deployed a full 3D model to optimise quantities and ensure accurate construction cost estimates , which has rolled over into the project management of the actual construction to ensure what was designed is built accordingly .
“ The project has the hallmarks of any typical complex engineering project with various interfaces ,” comments Danie du Plessis , Technical Director , Highway Geometry . Challenges included the topography , the relocation of fibre and telecoms lines , power transmission lines and pylons , plus the fact that the project crosses the major water source for the town of Malmesbury , which necessitated additional protection measures .
The project has been a major testament to AECOM ’ s digital capabilities . “ That is exactly what our client required , as it had a specific budget and timeframe . Given
our capacity and expertise to complete such complex works , we were ultimately the consultant selected for the project ,” highlights Omar .
A critical infrastructure project for the Western Cape , it forms part of a larger 170km road network between the Port of Saldanha in the West and the N1 and N2 in the East . The so-called Malmesbury Bypass falls under the Strategic Integrated Project 5 of the National Infrastructure
Plan 2050 , the Saldanha-Northern Cape Development Corridor .
The East-West link has long been in the planning stages , with AECOM subsequently working on additional sections , reveals Omar . The N2 is the major route for freight transport between South Africa and Mozambique and the N7 to Namibia . “ It is also crucial for the successful operation and capacity of provincial roads in general in the region , as previously freight traffic had to pass directly through Malmesbury , hence the need for the bypass ,” says du Plessis .
The new Malmesbury Bypass , a 6.7km Greenfield link , consists of 2 x 3.7m wide lanes and 2 x 2.4m surfaced shoulders . It includes two road-over-road underpass bridges , a river bridge , a bridge spanning an environmentally sensitive wetland and an interchange bridge . Various stormwater structures are included given the recent flooding and to ensure resilient future-proof infrastructure , and an agricultural underpass for access for a landowner .
The timeline to date has been preliminary , with detail design commencing in January 2022 and a hard deadline for the latter by end May 2022 . AECOM achieved this successfully , with the project going out to tender in October 2022 . H & I Construction was appointed for the construction works , starting in May 2023 and expected to be completed by November 2026 .
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