Athlone towers face immediate demolition

An engineering study has found that the old cooling towers at Athlone's defunct power station could come tumbling down in strong winds.

This has prompted the city to act more quickly on the planned removal of the towers and to begin the demolition process immediately.

This comes after a stabilising ring around one of the towers fell to the ground a week ago, forcing the authorities to close part of the N2 while structural engineers assessed the damage and risk to passing traffic.

Clive Justus, mayoral committee member for utility services, said in a statement that since this incident, the city had been given a report on the integrity of the towers by the structural engineers.

The report found that although the immediate collapse of the cooling towers was unlikely, "it is possible that one or both of the towers could collapse in high winds".

"It is thus strongly recommended that both towers be demolished before winter's north-westerly winds," the report recommended.

Cape Town's fierce winter north-westerlies often reach gale-force strength.

Justus said as a result of the report, the city would begin demolition immediately.

He said that this would be completed before the start of the World Cup in June.

The stabilising rings were fitted around the towers many years ago as a safety feature.

Athlone power station was shut down in 2002, and in 2006 the city decided to decommission the site.

The city has not yet decided on a use for it.

Cape Times

Posted at 09:42AM Feb 23, 2010 by Editor in Commercial  |