Delivering civils projects in coastal locations isn’t for the fainthearted. Tides, public access, vessel movements and environmental constraints are just a few of the challenges. Simplifying delivery is critical to manage project risks and keep the schedule on track.
In many coastal locations, groynes form an essential protection against erosion. The forces responsible for coastal erosion are an ever-present factor when these structures need to be replaced or upgraded.
As part of the Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme, Suttle Projects was appointed to replace 20 timber groynes. We also carried out exploratory investigations for the repair and upgrade of Hengistbury Head Long Groyne. Without the groynes, this aggressive tidal location could experience one metre of erosion each year, putting residential and business properties along the 18km of coastline at risk.
In simplifying the project, we put residents and the public at the forefront with an extensive consultation and information programme. Activities had to be scheduled to work efficiently around the double tide regime at Poole Bay. Day and night working and constructing multiple groynes simultaneously maximised the use of the spring low tides.
The project was completed safely and efficiently on time and on budget. The excavators and plant needed were drawn from our own fleet to simplify delivery and were carefully selected to maximise productivity within the relatively short tidal windows.
The learning and best practice was subsequently applied to new bids and a further Poole Bay Management Scheme project to construct 7 new timber groynes and deconstruct 7 life expired groynes from East Cliff to either side of Boscombe Pier was awarded.
Busy Marine Environments
Repairing and improving the Weymouth Harbour North Quay Wall also threw up many project constraints. Work had to be scheduled to accommodate the tides and the fact that the site was alongside a busy carriageway. We also had to manage public access as we were working on a live footpath in a town centre.
The capability of sister company Suttle Piling helped simplify the project. They constructed a cofferdam to create a dry working area while we carried out the masonry wall reconstruction.
Careful scheduling ensured the highest risk activities were carried out at the least busy times. For example, concrete pours happened early in the morning. In other cases, some areas had to be fenced off and ‘Stop Works’ boards used to ensure safety during short tasks using heavy plant.
Coastal and harbour projects generally come with more than enough constraints and risks. We can’t influence the tides or the weather, but simplifying delivery using in-house expertise and our own equipment and material supplies helps eliminate the risks that we can control.
This is the benefit of our projects: simplified approach to delivery. Head over to our information and insights section below to find out more.