Work progressing on Muizenberg beachfront upgrade
The refurbishment of the Muizenberg beachfront is progressing well. The construction of the coastal revetment at the start of the St James walkway is under way, the stormwater pipeline at Surfer’s Corner has been realigned and is now being installed, and the contractor has commenced with the layer work at the western parking area.
Image: Supplied
Refurbishment work along the Muizenberg beachfront is moving ahead steadily, with several key developments underway.
According to the City’s mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, the upgrades are aimed at improving public infrastructure and protecting the area from the impacts of climate change.
Construction teams are currently working on various parts of the project.
The coastal revetment at the start of the St James walkway is under construction, the stormwater pipeline at Surfers’ Corner has been realigned and is now being installed, and work has started on the layer work for the western parking area.
If all goes according to plan, the beachside parking area in front of the Muizenberg civic centre is expected to reopen to the public by Friday, August 1.
The project began in February 2025 and is being rolled out in phases over two years.
“I’ve been informed that the pre-casting of the concrete components for the main promenade has started off-site to ensure the highest quality,” said Mr Andrews.
“The stepped revetment panels are also being manufactured.”
Mr Andrews said the next steps include removing sections of the old seawall and completing the new stormwater system and piling work at Surfers’ Corner.
“The armour rock for the revetment at the start of the St James walkway has been placed, and soon the new walkway will be constructed," he said.
He added that the winter weather presents extra challenges.
“Working in the tidal and wave run-up zone is complex, especially during storm events, high winds, and strong wave action. This requires careful planning and the flexibility to adapt. We will use large sandbags to provide temporary protection to the surrounding area once we remove the old step structure.”
On the eastern side, in front of the Muizenberg civic centre, Mr Andrews said progress is going well despite a small setback.
“We discovered during the excavations that the old retaining wall had no foundation and began to fail once we removed the old paving. A new retaining wall will be built, and this one will be lower and provide additional seating.”
He said that the stormwater infrastructure in the area has been installed, and paving will start soon.
The City is encouraging residents to stay informed about the project’s progress.
The next community liaison meeting for the Muizenberg Beachfront refurbishment project will take place on Tuesday, June 17, from 5.30pm to 7pm, at The Lookout, Promenade Road, Zandvlei, Muizenberg.
For regular updates, sign up at https://forms.office.com/r/8rARD9z8SM or email muizenberg@chand.co.za.