Select a region
Quick drying cement is being used to shore up the sea wall at Les Banques as engineers work around the tides to stop the apron from collapsing.
The metal sheet piles which sit beneath that section of the wall were installed in the 1960s and they're now corroding.
Infrastructure Officer for the States of Guernsey, Marco Tersigni said that's why the work which is now underway near Ian Brown's Cycle Shop has been commissioned.
"What's happening is that beneath the apron section of the coastal wall, which is the bit that comes out at a 45 degree angle from the main coastal wall, are metal sheet piles and they were placed in the 60s. Over time, they've corroded to a situation whereby now if you don't address them, the risk is that the open section of the wall could fail, and consequently, the wall behind it could fail as well.
"Behind the wall, obviously, is the road which carries major utilities between St Sampson's and St Peter Port."
To ensure that sea wall, and one of the island's busiest roads, doesn't fail, Environment and Infrastructure have contracted Geomarine to ensure those metal sheet piles are reinforced.
Work started on Monday with the engineers seen working on the beach beneath Les Banques.
Their machinery is being stored on the slipways and pavements around the area where the work is being carried out, meaning there's also disruption to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists using the area.
Pictured: Engineers assessing the apron as work got started on Monday morning.
"There is going to be disruption unfortunately because it is a major route coming in and out of town, but we have to put the traffic management in purely for the safety of the public and the contractors working there," said Mr Tersigni.
"So it is unfortunate. The traffic management we've got down there is very similar to what's been there before, but it is going to cause disruption. I can't sugar coat it. It is annoying, but it is what it is."
Mr Tersigni said the work, being carried out by Geomarine and a subcontractor, will take up to two weeks to complete.
They are spraying concrete into the void beneath the apron to reinforce the structure, which Mr Tersigni said is pretty routine locally.
"We have an ongoing routine maintenance programme for the whole of Guernsey, including the coastal defences, and this is just one part of it.
"Unfortunately, because of where it is the location is very prominent so people know where it is, whereas we might have work going on at L'ancresse which is more off the beaten track and people don't see it. But something that's so obvious like at Admiral Park, it's very open to the public, and people see it."
As well as working through the cold winter days, the engineers are working around Guernsey's tides to complete this project.
Mr Tersigni said that might mean they are finished before the two weeks' allocated to the project are up.
"We've got a two week timeframe, but that might be quicker, it depends how quickly they go on. It's tidal dependent as well so we need to work with nature on this, and the primary concern we've got is health and safety risks to the public and the contractor.
"Obviously they check the tides and work when the tide allows them to actually get into the area they need to work, actually spraying the concrete.
"So, they've already looked at the tide prior to starting the project, so that's already been programmed in as part of the project.
"It's fairly quick drying (cement), as I've been told by the engineers. It's a specific mix they're using for that area so in between the tidal movements it will be hard enough for it to be sustainable."
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.