Bikini Beach wall work starts
GORDON’S BAY – A broken-down and dilapidated sea wall at Bikini Beach is finally being repaired and reconstructed.
The portion of sea wall, built mostly of strategically placed rocks, has been pounded by the relentless waves over several years.
“I’m not sure when this wall was built, but by the assessment we conducted it’s certainly been many, many years back,” said Rodney Walker of Guerrini Marine Construction, the contractors appointed by the City of Cape Town to conduct the reconstruction.
The works at Bikini Beach started only about two weeks ago, but Walker says public interest has been immense, with many passers-by, neighbours and curious onlookers “unable to contain themselves”.
“We have been inundated with questions, even accusations,” he said.
“People are mostly concerned about how long this process will take and what the final product will look like.”
He affirmed the entire project would last no longer than three months.
“We are making significant progress, but with a project like this we are restricted to the weather conditions being in our favour. We are looking at completing around mid-September.”
The reconstruction of the sea wall surrounding the iconic Blue Flag beach will preserve the current look and consist mainly of reinforcements to prevent further deterioration.
Bikini Beach itself only recently reemerged on the coast following dredging activities in the adjacent Gordon’s Bay Harbour at the yacht club. This resulted in the small patch of land turning sandy again and water receding slightly to expose the beautiful beach.
The area is expected to be a main attraction for visitors, especially after lockdown is over.