PROJECT INFORMATION
| Client: | Mossel Bay Municipality |
| Main contractor: | |
| JV partners | EMPA |
| Date: | |
| Location: | Brandwacht, South Africa |
| Challenge: | High-speed traffic and poor visibility made crossing the R328 life-threatening for Brandwacht residents. |
| Solution: | A community-informed pedestrian bridge designed for safety, visibility, and resilience |
| Impact: | A safer daily commute for hundreds of residents and motorists |
PROBLEMS WE SOLVED
Caught between beauty and danger
Brandwacht is home to just 2,000 residents who desperately needed a solution to a road that had already claimed several lives, including those of four children.
In 2018, after Mossel Bay Municipality’s successful application for Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding, Atana was appointed to help construct a long-term solution.
Atana’s challenge? Design and supervise the construction of a pedestrian bridge that balances practicality, visual appeal and community support.
Smart design. Safer journeys.
- Community-informed design: Location and layout were refined in consultation with local leaders and the nearby school, to ensure daily use.
- Built for reliance: Designed with curved soffits, radiused corners, and a protective cage to protect pedestrians and withstand vehicle impact.
- Prefabrication for safety: Formwork was assembled off-site to reduce risk and disruption during on-site construction.
- Cage design with visibility: Wave-shaped horizontal bars painted ocean blue improve aesthetics and allow clear sightlines across the bridge.
- Minimal traffic impact: Construction was carefully staged using speed reductions, height restrictions, and controlled windows to avoid congestion.
- Geotechnical precision: Revised foundation designs and earth-filled ramps with gabion walls create stable access without encroaching on nearby properties.
Beyond the bridge, Atana ensured:
- Pedestrian safety, preventing future road fatalities;
- Local employment, training, and upskilling opportunities;
- A sense of ownership built through deep community involvement; and
- On-time, on-budget completion with enduring value.
A bridge built by the people it protects
The Brandwacht Pedestrian Bridge project won the CESAA Engineering Excellence Award 2022 in the “Projects Less Than R50 Million” category.
As the only road that crosses the summit of the Drakensberg Mountain range, Sani Pass’s steep switchbacks, loose gravel, and sudden weather changes meant local communities faced dangerous journeys to access schools, healthcare, and trade routes.
But after nearly two decades of 24/7 operation, its systems were well past their prime. Power systems, water supply, waste management and heating – all critical to survival in Antarctica – were in dire straits.
Calcium and magnesium build-up caused “hard water,” which began to solidify – and clog pipes.
Many roads and vehicles were in poor condition, and safe, reliable transport remained out of reach for thousands.
Atana supported both projects through project management and Clerk of Works services spanning planning, design, procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring.
Designed and delivered by Atana as the primary engineering consultant, the project combines sustainability, speed, and technical ingenuity.
