A new video has been produced to give a ‘behind the scenes’ look at a coastal defence scheme in Portsmouth.
The video, produced by the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership (ESCP), shows the construction of new flood defences at Anchorage Park, North Portsea Island – a £6m scheme delivered by Mackley working as part of Team Van Oord*.
The scheme, which has reduced the risk of coastal flooding and erosion to the area over the next 100 years, was commissioned by the ESCP and made possible through funding awarded to Portsmouth City Council by the Environment Agency.
The film shows how timber mats were used to create a temporary access road in order to reduce the level of noise and dust caused by traffic moving to and from the site.
It also shows the original embankment before the works took place, and explains that 52,000 tonnes of soil were required to complete the new 1.4km embankment.
The 21,000 tonnes of rock used in the scheme was shipped from Norway to Southampton Dock and then transported by road to site. The rock was placed in situ at a rate of 10 metres per day.
The toe (or base) of the new embankment is below the foreshore so this element of the work had to be completed at low tide.
The film also shows how 400 sheet steel piles were installed using a vibrating hammer in order to reduce noise and environmental impact.
On the eastern side of the site a wall was created from gabions (stone filled wire baskets) to support the new embankment. The gabion were machine filled and then completed by hand to ensure a good finish.
On completion the rock was pressure washed, new vegetation planted and a new footpath installed. Construction works began in May 2015 and were substantially completed by November 2015.
*Team Van Oord
Team Van Oord is a joint venture partnership between Van Oord, Kier Group, Mackley Construction and Royal HaskoningDHV.
20 January 2016
