The City’s Coastal Management branch in partnership with the Roads Infrastructure Management Department is busy with a pilot project to mitigate the impact of windblown sand on Baden Powell Drive, at Sandy Corner, close to Monwabisi. The work started on Monday, 2 February, and should be concluded by next week, if all goes as planned.
Every year, during the windy summer months, a section of Baden Powell Drive known as Sandy Corner, is severely impacted by the strong southeastely winds that blow sand from the local dune system onto the road. This requires continuous maintenance in the interest of road safety and to protect the asset from being swallowed by the dune system.
This year, the City’s Coastal Management branch in partnership with the Roads Infrastructure Management (RIM) Department embarked on a pilot project to test the efficiency of brushwood and straw in trapping the sand on the dune, and to assist in stabilising the dune system at Sandy Corner. This is in addition to the reprofiling of the dune.
‘We started the work on Monday and hope to be done by next week. Some people driving along Baden Powell Drive would have noticed the activity next to the road. We are moving approximately 5000 m3 of clean sand and returning this to circulation in the sea. Then we reprofile the dune, and trial the use of the brushwood and straw to trap the sand. This is only a trial and we will track the efficiency in coming months,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
‘Baden Powell Drive is an important road link in the metro-south east and facilitates east-west-moblity. Many commuters use this road for their daily commute. It really becomes a challenge in the summer months when sand accumulates on the surface, especially during long periods of strong southeasterly winds, at times forcing us to close the road. We are happy to work with our colleagues from Coastal Management who are the experts in coastal systems and are optimistic that this trial will work to protect the road,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
Once complete, the City will continue to monitor the dune system to measure the impact. The trial period will conclude at the end of June 2026.
