‘People won’t know we've been there, it will look the same’
THE Castle Emplacement walkway project is currently on the right path to hit deadlines after a month of work on the site.
The 25m section of the walkway had deteriorated in recent years, partly caused by a defective surface water drainage system, which was exposed by small holes in the sea wall and cracks in the base of the model yacht pond.
Ground movement had also caused problems.
The project, designed and managed by the commercial and infrastructure team at Guernsey Ports, will create a new walkway with reinforced concrete foundations, a new granite wall and a new drainage system.
‘We’re putting in steel-cased reinforced 14.5m rods, as well as a reinforced concrete beam,’ said Guernsey Ports project manager Joe Armstrong.
‘Once this is complete, a new granite retaining wall will be reconstructed, an improved surface water outfall will be installed, and the area will be resurfaced.’
The new drainage system will see four more gulleys added, to take the total to five, as well as doubling them in diameter.
The team has already faced a small number of issues, including risky ground conditions and finding a concrete slab with a piece of railway track in it, but are expecting to finish on time in December.
‘Once it’s back up it will be business as usual, the rowing boats will be able to go back and people will once again be able to make full use of the pathway because we’ll have ensured its long term stability,’ said Mr Armstrong.
‘People won’t even know we’ve been there once finished, as it will look the same as before.’
The works are being undertaken by local contractors, following a competitive tender process, who started work in late July allowing for the Island Games sailing event to finish.
The project is estimated to cost £400,000.
