Introduction
While good progress is being made, heavy winds and high seas hamper the project’s progress. Heavy winds flood the causeway, and high seas prevent the opening of the mouth. Estuary levels need to drop for the completion of cofferdams, allowing for the installation of the culverts.
According to the mayor, the project is progressing well and is 50% complete.
A reminder that you can follow the progress on the causeway refurbishment via a live webcam. Oh, and also watch some amazing sunsets!
Project Scope
- Replacing asphalt with plain jointed concrete pavement.
- Reinforcing concrete erosion protection on the upstream side.
- Installing four sets of precast portal culverts measuring 3.0m x 1.5m.
- Repairing concrete spalling on existing culverts.
- Conducting general repairs to concrete and armorflex along the Seekoei River side.
- Reinstating road warning signs and streetlights.
- Implementing wave protection measures, subject to budget availability.
Replacing asphalt with plain jointed concrete pavement.
More than half of the tar has been dug up and concreted. A small section of the causeway on the Aston side still needs to be completed.
Reinforcing concrete erosion protection on the upstream side.
This work has not yet begun.
Installing four sets of precast portal culverts measuring 3.0m x 1.5m.
A single culvert on the Aston Bay side will be installed.
Work on this has completely stalled due to seasonal weather. There were high winds and seas on the weekend of 20th June 2025. This increased the height of the estuary water level, damming up against the causeway, resulting in the causeway and cofferdam being flooded.
A third attempt was made to open the mouth on 17th and 18th June, 2025. By Monday, the 23rd June, high seas completely closed the mouth.
Repairing concrete spalling on existing culverts.
Concrete spalling is the deterioration of a concrete surface, characterised by flaking, chipping, or peeling away of the concrete, often exposing the internal layers or reinforcement.
Repairs to the concrete have started on the Paradise Beach side of the causeway.
Conducting general repairs to concrete and armorFlex along the Seekoei River side.
ArmoFlex is an interlocking matrix of concrete blocks that acts as an erosion control system. Concrete and ArmoFlex repairs along the Seekoei River side have not started as the estuary water level is too high.
Reinstating road warning signs and streetlights.
Work on this has not started yet. I assume this work will commence once the bulk of the concrete work is complete. The fibre and water pipes will also need to be reestablished.
Implementing wave protection measures, subject to budget availability.
Based on the current flow of water over the causeway resulting from high winds, one can see the importance of these measures. The work allowed for raising the height of the causeway by 8 cm. Based on the work currently underway, the level of the causeway will remain as is.
Conclusion
As of writing this, the wind is howling and the causeway is flooded. Work on the cofferdams and culvert installation has stalled. The mouth remains closed.
One hopes that any delays will not cut into the budget, preventing wave protection measures from being put in place.
Today’s live webcam and flooding of the causeway can be seen in the video below.
