• Poole Town Quay (Phase 2)

    Good value, high quality materials and service

Poole Town Quay (Phase 2)

Poole Town Quay (Phase 2)

Client - Poole Harbour Commissioners
Value - £600,000.00
Duration - 12 weeks
Profile Number - 16/46

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The project aim was to renew 100 metres of the existing deteriorated quay wall and increase the flood defence capability.

Suttle Projects were contracted to remove the existing timberwork and supply and install a tied sheet piled wall, with precast concrete capping.  Suttle Projects were also required to carry out the new drainage works.  This involved the construction of manholes, linear drainage, a bypass interceptor and a new quay outfall.  This was followed by asphalt and block paving surfacing works to provide a finish that was sympathetic to the existing quay heritage features.

Historic Poole Quay is an attractive, busy, amenity that is frequented by many visitors.  Over recent years Poole Quay has benefited from an ambitious regeneration programme, which has attracted new businesses to the Quay.  These, and the luxury Sunseeker powerboats moored in the marina, are a huge tourist attraction.  As is bike night, an event held throughout April to September, when the Quay is closed to all traffic apart from motorbikes and attracts over 1,000 bikers a night.  Our works were entirely planned and executed to harmonise with all of this external activity.

To ensure the safety of pedestrians Suttle Projects developed a traffic management plan that had control measures in place to reduce any disruption. This included an interlocking crowd barrier, which was installed along the quay edge to divert pedestrians away from the works. Signage was also clearly displayed on the approaches to the site, warning of the danger of the site entrance.  It was also necessary that site noise levels did not constitute a nuisance and that the construction was conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner to reduce any detrimental impact to the natural environment.

Using a modular pontoon to access the quay edge, the existing timber capping and walings were unfastened and then slung by an attendant excavator.  The redundant timber pile extraction was performed from the quay edge using a Movax piling rig to grip and extract the timber fender piles. 

The new AZ 20-700 steel sheet piles were installed with a 55-tonne hydraulic telescopic leader rig.  The correct pile line was achieved using a pipe laser mounted on a tripod.

After the completion of the sheet pile installation, marine dredged shingle was used to infill the void behind the sheets. Steel fender brackets were welded to the steel sheet piles and the new vertical hardwood timber posts were fixed using 4 rows of M20 coach screws.

The excavation for 18 access pits at the rear of the existing counterforts enabled the installation of the tie bars. 

The outcome of the project was an asset delivered to the local harbour commissioners on time, safely and within a budget attainable through use of a local SME with a self-delivery business model.