Chapman’s Peak Drive winds its way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay on the Atlantic Coast on the south-western tip of South Africa. The 9km route has 114 curves and skirts the rocky coastline of Chapman’s Peak (593m), which is the southerly extension of Constantiaberg. Sir Frederic De Waal ordered the construction of the Hout Bay – Noordehoek Road in the early 1900’s. The route took 7 years to complete and was first opened in 1922. The road was widened in 1962 and in 1977 a portion of the road was washed away resulting in a bridge to replace the damaged section.
This is the first time that half tunnelling has been used in South Africa and entails cutting into the mountain at road level, then moving the road in under the protection of the resulting overhang. The 155m half tunnel was built at the base of Chapman’s Peak and the overhanging rock-mass is supported by 95t rock anchors. The soffit and side walls are supported by 150mm thick steel reinforced shotcrete lining.
Awards
SAACE National Award for Engineering Excellence (2004)
SAFCEC National President’s Award (2004)
Bentley Systems prestigious international award (civil Design) for 3D and 2D rockfall hazard analysis and design using the Microstation suite of geospatial software packages (2004)
