The Sir Lowry’s Pass River Upgrade Project in Gordon’s Bay is facing a one-year delay and an R88 million cost increase after encountering severe underground challenges, heavy flooding and unexpected design adjustments.

But City of Cape Town officials have assured residents that the delay will not hold up nearby housing developments, including Vlakteplaas, earmarked for public-assisted house and mixed-use development, as part of the Gordon’s Bay Development Area (GBDA).

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Vlakteplaas neighbours other large-scale proposals in the Helderberg corridor, such as the Rouen Farm Housing Project and Grasso.

Last month the City issued a public notice regarding the contract, proposing both a financial increase and an extension to the completion date.

Costs up by 33%

The original contract value of R265,8 million has been increased to R371,8 million, up by 33%. The original expected deadline, which surpassed on 26 October 2026, is now extended to 8 October 2027.

Regarding possibly posing delays to current housing projects Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, confirmed there was no reason to expect this. “The current delays to the Sir Lowry’s Pass River Upgrade Project are not expected to affect the immediate construction or occupation timelines of the housing projects.”

He noted the extra costs stem from work that was not included in the original tender’s bill of quantities, along with rather severe environmental site conditions.

Severe weather and ground obstacles

“These are related to undermeasurement of excavations, stabilisation of earthworks, steel works, and modifications of the existing Gordon’s Bay Wastewater Treatment Works,” said Badroodien.

He added that severe weather and physical ground obstacles repeatedly halted progress.

“Variation orders covered unforeseen eventualities such as abnormal weather, flooding, high groundwater and saturated conditions, utility constraints, restricted access and so on.”

Key challenges that disrupted work included the relocating of a major 132 kV power tower, managing underground water and saturated mud during heavy rain, and coordinating work around the Gordon’s Bay Sewage Pump Station and Rising Main.

Delays couldn’t be made up

Although the contractor added extra workers and rescheduled construction to speed things up, the delays could not be fully made up within the original time frame.

Residents in Gordon’s Bay may continue to experience temporary inconveniences.

“It is possible that the extended contract period may extend associated construction traffic, noise, temporary traffic management and access restrictions, depending on the outstanding works, location of activities and approved construction programme,” Badroodien noted.

Nor, he stressed, will the disruption be continuous across the entire area right into next year.

“The contractor is, and will continue to be, required to implement the necessary precautions, mitigation measures and appropriate construction controls to minimise potential impacts on the surrounding residential areas… It does not mean that all existing disruptions will necessarily continue until October [next year].”