Fix Gautrain water problem - tribunal

[dlk001]

Good decision...I don't see how Bombela was going to escape their liability

Johannesburg - The Bombela Concession Company has been ordered to fix the ingress of water into parts of the Gautrain's tunnel in Johannesburg, the rail company said on Wednesday.

The ruling was made by a tribunal of three retired judges appointed by the Arbitration Foundation of SA, Gautrain spokesperson Barbara Jensen said in a statement.

Bombela designed and built the Gautrain rapid rail project.

Jensen said the tunnel section between Johannesburg Park Station and E2 (Emergency Shaft Two), and between Rosebank station and the Marlboro portal, was not in accordance with the contract specifications.

"With respect to the tunnel section between Johannesburg Park Station and E2 close to the Wilds in Johannesburg, remedial work must be undertaken by the Bombela Concession Company."

Jensen said Bombela was not allowed to appeal against the ruling and was expected to present the Gautrain management agency with plans to fix the problem.

Water was seeping into both sections of the tunnel, but the water level between Park station and E2, near Roedean School in Parktown, was far higher than in the rest of the tunnel.

DA welcomes ruling


DA MPL Neil Campbell welcomed the ruling in a statement on Wednesday.

"Credit must go to the Gautrain management agency for their dogged determination on not backing down and fighting for a "decent" tunnel," he said.

"This will save the Gauteng public purse a considerable amount of net costs in water control over the 80-year planned lifespan of the tunnel, for which the taxpayer and not Bombela will be responsible."

http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Fix-Gautrain-water-problem-tribunal-20131127

 

[Mila]

I thought it was sorted a long time ago.
Wonder how it will be fixed, this would be interesting.

 

[XennoX]

I thought it was sorted a long time ago.
Wonder how it will be fixed, this would be interesting.

Geotextiles that drain into a sump and then pump it into the drainage system.

 

[DJ...]

Geotextiles that drain into a sump and then pump it into the drainage system.

Nonsense. Duct-tape...

 

[dlk001]

I thought it was sorted a long time ago.
Wonder how it will be fixed, this would be interesting.

They will probably inject resin/grout around perimeter of the tunnel to close the voids. Wait and see what happens.

They will also need to redirect infiltrated water to a drainage system. Problem is there is more water than originally anticipated so they need to redesign catchment and apply for a new water licence.

Worst case scenario is closing the tunnel and reconstruct the portions of the tunnel lining that is leaking.

 

[LazyLion]

Fixing underground seepage is not an easy job. Good luck to them.