25 Jun 2020

N2 Wild Coast Road

by | posted in: Construction Chat | 4

“Take a walk on the wild side”  or drive or ride, whatever blows your hair back.

The Wild Coast, the southern tip of KZN and north of the Eastern Cape, a stunning, almost untouched, part of the country, and because of the lack of road access, it is also one of the poorest areas in South Africa.  The development of a new road system would benefit the area to encourage tourism and to allow the area open to economic opportunities.  However, the environmental aspect needs to be fully considered and there has been public participation in making a decision over several years. 

As of May 2019, a project had been opened to upgrade the surface of 15km of the Road DR08046, which is a portion of the Wild Coast Meander.  As at the 14th of May 2020, the current status is underway. 

The positive is always moving forward and reaching out to those in need.  However, the world has suffered quite a dramatic change of viewpoint recently, so would reaching out to those in need by constructing a road for growth be beneficial?  Or would it be best to leave them untouched? 

The Negative and Interference

In 2018 the villagers of Pondoland had pleaded for the new road to not to take place, as it would destroy their land and their way of life. They are the people of this land and they have spoken up.

In 2019 there was a write up in the Moneyweb: “Engineers leave SA due to ‘construction mafia’”.  Projects are compromised with illegal site disruptions. These illegal site disruptions caused some listed construction companies to withdraw from parts of the N2 Wild Coast Road Construction, due to fearing for the safety of their employees.

This is what makes me feel torn.  There is always positive with every negative and vice versa.  Growth and infrastructure are what people want and need.  Millions are poured into beautiful places so that the whole world can visit and the local community can benefit.  Yet it is the beautiful and untouched places that get destroyed by too many people. The simpler things in life aren’t so simple anymore.  Do we need to have every corner of our planet touched and modernised and built up?

I’ve given the facts, but my gut is saying leave it “WILD”, leave it as it is because it is just that, BEAUTIFUL and untouched, with infrastructure and upgrading the beauty will be taken away and we’ll be left with yet another oversaturated tourist attraction.

The project is on the way, let’s hope that all the positives come out from this:

The people get what they need, the wildlife remains “untouched” and wild. The land remains a well sufficient and working ecosystem even with the interference of people. And education of the area to form respect for the land.

To view these tenders and projects in full, one needs to be subscribed to our website, contact us for further details:  www.L2B.co.za

Projects available to view on L2B website regarding the N2 Toll are;

  • N2 Toll – Mtentu Bridge
  • N2 Toll – Msikaba Bridge
  • N2 Toll – North & South Haul Roads

Recent Tenders available on L2B:

  • N2 Wild Coast toll highway Section 20 between the Lingeni intersection km 1540 and..
  • N2 Wild Coast Highway Section 20 between the Msikaba River Bridge and the Mtentu River Bridge
  • Msikaba River Bridge On The N2 Wild Coast Toll Road
  • N2 Wild Coast Toll Road Supply Of Crushed Rock Material
  • N2 Wild Coast Toll Highway Section 21 between Kulumbe Village km 2150 and the Mtamvuna.
  • N2 Wild Coast Toll Highway Section 19 between Ndwalane km 7560 and Ntafufu km 922.

I think back to Ballito in the late ‘80s early ‘90s and look at the bustling metropolis it is today.  Yes, it provides work and community, wow has it grown! Even in two years since the road access from Zululand to Maputo in Mozambique has opened up access and work for the local community. The tourists seem to be visiting Ponto d’Oura and Malangane less which means the Vendor market has changed. Maybe for the better, it is still something to consider.

What does your gut feel?

Sources:
L2B
Moneyweb

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About Tara Hutton

My employment at Leads 2 Business commenced in January 2010, where for two years I worked in the Directory Department establishing a better understanding of construction and where Leads 2 Business fitted in. In February 2012, I moved to the Accounts department where I have been looking after accounts queries and anything related to accounts since then. I have been told by many that I’m resilient, yet caring individual and good to have on “their” side. Calm under pressure, which is quite useful in my line of work. I am proud and honoured to be part of the L2B mothership adding my bit to the greater good. Should you require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

30 May 2019

Why go Green? Is it really worth it?

by | posted in: General | 0

Why go green? Is it really worth it?

I have been so amped to write on this subject. I know there are folk, some in my family, who think I’m away with the faeries half the time and I live in a world that doesn’t exist, but why shouldn’t it be real?

This is a huge topic of conversation at the moment, even celebrities, like Leo DiCaprio are getting involved and are giving back. My question to every human being living on this planet, taking from this planet;

  • Do you want to live a happy healthy life?
  • Do you want to find the balance of life?
  • Do you want the best from life and just enough to live?
  • Are you prepared to give back all that you have taken?
  • How do you wish to leave this planet for our children and children’s children?
  • Are you happy?

Yes, I am a tree-loving bunny hugging green planet person. I do see so much beauty within each country and we can live to appreciate the beauty we just need to balance our lives, in turn, balance what we take from this world we live in. Let’s start being aware of where each “One Person” can make a change to improve our environment and go green.

There are several positive side effects: Cleaner air and water.

  • Increased productivity levels and we would pay out less for medical benefits. – Healthier eating at the workplace.
  • Implement environmental policies in the workplace by reducing waste, conserve natural resources, improve both air and water quality and protect the ecosystems.
  • Lower utility bills
  • Maybe if the plastic tar becomes a hit, we’ll even have fewer potholes in the road and that saves expense on wheel alignment and tyres! And less plastic lying around.

The adverse effects of not going green:

  • Climate change/Global warming

Bill Gates wrote a Blog on climate change in 2018, titled “Climate change and the 75% problem” www.gatesnotes.com

  • As Mr Gates pointed out Electricity, is only 25% of the problem with regards to climate change. (We, in South Africa, experience a totally different issue with electricity), however, we can still improve our lifestyle and our environment by starting here. If we can generate electricity without the greenhouse emissions issue and the over mining, by utilising solar panels and wind turbines, both of which are not running short in South Africa. That is already a start.
  • The other 75% is allocated to what:
  • Agriculture and its emissions – greenhouse effect. Examples of these are:
  1. Beef farming – methane “this is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases!”
  2. Deforestation – rain forests are being replaced by crops. Firstly by removing the trees that pull the CO2 from the air we breathe, secondly the trees are burned and once again carbon is burnt back into the atmosphere. We become unhealthy because the air we breathe is unhealthy.
  • Do we really need to eat as much as we do? We need to know ourselves, our blood types the environment we live in and rather eat to feel whole, rather than constantly eat for the pleasure.
  • Manufacturing:
  1. Plastic. Goodness me don’t get me started on plastic. I saw a photo on Facebook the other day, of whole peeled oranges in a plastic container for protection? They have their own natural protection which they are taken out of. Does NOT make sense to me. Do you know that a lot of the fabric in our clothing has plastic within the threads? When the clothes are washed, where does the water go? Not only does the plastic that is littering the streets and overflowing landfills fall into the water ways, which land up in the oceans, the plastic in the clothing does too.
  2. Steel and Cement, the manufacture of both of these require a lot of energy used from fossil fuels.
  • Transportation:

Traffic has increased, not only has this increased fuel emissions but the road rage the high blood pressure that goes with it, very unhealthy. Everything is expected immediately hence, metal trucks are loaded up high with stock which is more likely covered in plastic and shipped across from one side of the country to the other, emitting fumes.

  • Buildings:

We work and live in concrete buildings. When it’s excruciatingly hot we use an air conditioner, then freezing cold the heater goes on. A beautiful fireplace to keep us toasty and warm in winter, omissions. Lights are on, who wants to work in an office when it’s dark and gloomy. All these contribute to climate change.

Think of a way to use less and give back more. Each individual needs to be aware of what damage they are causing to our world and our own individual lives. We, humans, are growing at a massive rate, we want more, yet do we need more? Our everyday lifestyles are damaging to the environment as we think it improves our lives. Does it really though? We spend a fortune upgrading everything, only to spend a fortune to get away from it all for peace, quiet and tranquillity.

A lot of these issues need to be researched to develop new cleaner greener ways. The human race has been smart enough to invent and develop what we have now, let’s do this and beat climate change, have healthier living and keep the planet beautiful and be one with our planet.

So the question is: “Why go green? Is it worth it?” in my opinion, YES absolutely.

 

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To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit Leads 2 Business Wiki.
To view more Events, please visit our Leads 2 Business Blog.

About Tara Hutton

My employment at Leads 2 Business commenced in January 2010, where for two years I worked in the Directory Department establishing a better understanding of construction and where Leads 2 Business fitted in. In February 2012, I moved to the Accounts department where I have been looking after accounts queries and anything related to accounts since then. I have been told by many that I’m resilient, yet caring individual and good to have on “their” side. Calm under pressure, which is quite useful in my line of work. I am proud and honoured to be part of the L2B mothership adding my bit to the greater good. Should you require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

30 Oct 2017

Did you Know #DYK: Trench-less Technology

by | posted in: Did You Know | 5

 

I did not know much about the ‘nitty gritty’ of my topic, so in my research, I have managed to repair the link between the unknown and new information. I do hope that I am able to shed some light to others too.

 

“Trenchless Technology”. Trenchless?! How may I ask could any material be placed underground without digging a trench?

 

Well, literally: Trenchless Technology means “no-dig” construction. Few trenches or no continuous trenches are required to being dug below the surface for minimal disruption to the surface. It is green, sustainable and cost-effective. The servicing rehabilitation, replacement of existing, the construction of new, public utilities and other services underground without the digging of trenches, including the development of all kinds of underground condition assessment and mapping techniques, tunnelling devices and specialist machinery, materials and equipment.

 

I became more interested and investigated further. Especially as it is rapidly growing within the construction and civil engineering industries.

 

Why?

As previously mentioned;

· There is less disruption to the surface.

· There are more environmental regulations, so the demand for this technology has increased.

· And expense, this technology is a non-disruptive, cost-effective solution to pipe laying.

 

The NASTT website provides a simple and straightforward definition:

[Trenchless technology refers to] a family of construction techniques for installing or rehabilitating underground infrastructure with minimal disruption to surface traffic, businesses, and residents. Also includes technologies for inspection, leak location, and leak detection with minimal disruption and minimal excavation from the ground surface.

 

The following methods used in this form of technology are: tunnelling, micro-tunnelling (MTM), horizontal directional drilling (HDD), also known as directional boring, pipe ramming (PR), pipe jacking (PJ), moving, horizontal auger boring (HAB)*, minimal excavation takes place for the installation of pipelines and cable below the ground.

 

Methods on a site being rehabilitated are known as: slip-lining, thermoformed pipe, pipe bursting, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), grout-in-place pipe, mechanical spot repair, and other methods for the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of existing buried pipes and structures without excavation, or at least with minimal excavation.

 

 

A lot needs to be considered, to prevent the surface caving in, the load on the surface must not have too much pressure to affect the bore which means the soil characteristics must be considered. For example, is the soil is sandy or there is a shallow water table or constant heavy urban traffic? All of this will need to be investigated and researched.

 

Examples where Trenchless Technology is useful:

• Sensitive areas in terms of the environment

• Golf Courses

• Airport Runways

• Railroads

• Waterways

• Busy Road Ways

• Residential or Commercial Areas

• Sewers

Trenchless Technology could quite possibly revolutionise the plumbing industry by providing a more efficient and economical way to restore and repair underground utilities likes pipes and plumbing, without the need for excavation.

When underground pipes get clogged, it can often require expensive and difficult excavation to repair the issues.

Trenchless sewer repair offers a much more streamlined and resourceful way to get your essential plumbing tasks done and once again, here’s why:

1) Saves you money

2) Saves you time

3) “Preserve the Beauty”

4) Improving infrastructure with less disruption

Impressive – I think…

 

Image sources:

Directional Drill

Directional drilling illustration

Technology has no ethics

 

Research tools:

-Myway image search

-Google images

-(Trenchless Technologies cc)

-(Taken from Book “Trenchless Technology: Pipeline and Utility Design, Construction and Renewal. Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Athens, London, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, New Delhi, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto. Published: 2005. Authors Mohammed Najafi, Ph.D, P.E.)

*(Wikipedia)

 

About Tara Hutton

My employment at Leads 2 Business commenced in January 2010, where for two years I worked in the Directory Department establishing a better understanding of construction and where Leads 2 Business fitted in. In February 2012, I moved to the Accounts department where I have been looking after accounts queries and anything related to accounts since then. I have been told by many that I’m resilient, yet caring individual and good to have on “their” side. Calm under pressure, which is quite useful in my line of work. I am proud and honoured to be part of the L2B mothership adding my bit to the greater good. Should you require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.