1887 Wood Head Tunnel Table Mountain

 

1887 Wood Head Tunnel Table Mountain

During the early days of construction of the reservoir, an aerial cableway similar to that in Kasteels Poort, was erected. It was neither successful and a trolley track with a set of lines laid on sleepers and constructed up the slope from the foot of the mountain. The water from Victoria, Alexandra and De Villiers ran down to Orange Kloof from whence it was piped across Constantia Nek and so on to Wynberg. The system is still in use today, though now the water goes through a filtration plant at Constantia Nek before being piped into Cape Town water supply. The Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir, was opened in 1904!

In 1905 Cape Town experienced its next shock when it discovered that the daily consumption had risen to over 11Ml per day in 1901 Mr Stewart reported that the Table Mountain reservoir could only supply 13,6Ml per day, Cape Town was once again in trouble. Three schemes were proposed but all had strict limitations. The water from Woodhead and Hely-Hutchinson continued to be used, and all of it passed through the Woodhead tunnel which emerged in Slangolie Ravine. Unfortunately, Slangolie Ravine though the shortest route, was a bad choice as an exit. The ravine surface became more and more unstable as time passed, and rock fall succeeded rock fall. Sometimes portions of the pipeline were swept away. Even more serious was the steady encroachment of the ravine towards the tunnel. In the 1950’s it became obvious that if the waters of Table Mountain were to be of further use to Cape Town, an alternative tunnel route would have to be found. As a result work commenced on the Apostles Tunnel in June 1960. This tunnel has its exit in Wood Buttress a couple of kilometres north of Slangolie Tunnel. It was a much more ambitious undertaking than the Woodhead, being some 1 300 metres in length. The Apostles Tunnel has now been in use for 38 years, whilst the Woodhead Tunnel is no longer operational.

 

Comment: Moderate adventure Hike not suitable for all. Permits need to be booked 4 weeks in advance. Maximum 6 participants.