These were installed using long reach excavators and drilling equipment with access being necessary by use of cherry pickers due to the height of the slope. A 3 metre high temporary stone platform had to be installed along the adjacent road to act as access and safe working platform for the workforce and mechanical plant and equipment. The client imposed a restriction that the existing public highway had to remain open at all times to minimise disruption to existing apartments and businesses. This was achieved by a carefully designed traffic management system using three way traffic lights.

Once the soil nails were installed, the slope was landscaped with a selection of pioneering shrubs and wildflower grass seed, existing footpaths and stone walls were dismantled and reinstated with imported fill and topsoil. The existing stone from the walls, which was of historic interest, was reused to refurbish disused steps at one end of the site, which reinstated stepped access to the top of the embankment including ornate balustrade and handrails.

The works were completed timeously, within the Clients budget and with minimum disruption to surrounding residents and businesses.

The works have generally comprised the construction of reinforced concrete foundations, ground floor slabs, intermediate floor slabs, plant room floor screeds, foul and surface water drainage and service installations, extensive external works including road accesses, car parking areas, and hard and soft landscaping.

The works also required the installation of deep surface water attenuation systems. A combination of plastic crate systems and corrugated steel culverts together with flow regulator chambers were employed. The installation process utilised a combination of open cut and sheet pile cofferdam solutions to suit the varying ground conditions and site access restrictions. The drainage ranged in size from 100mm to 300mm in diameter and was installed to depths of up to 4metres.

The works were carried out on a very busy site which required careful planning and organisation in order to maintain trade continuity and also to suit site access provisions. All our operations were completed on time, within the Client’s budget and with minimum disruption to the normal operations of the neighbouring businesses on the Business Park.

NCS’ scope of works consisted of constructing two 27m diameter by 1.2m high reinforced concrete carousels, seven complex reinforced concrete pits of different sizes and shapes up to 25m in length and up to 4.5m deep, three reinforced concrete machine base plinths, drainage works, substation and plant room foundations and plinths for prefabricated office buildings.

All works were undertaken inside an existing 200m x 50m steel clad shed which required air extraction equipment to maintain a safe working environment. Due to the nearby tidal waters, it was necessary to use dewatering equipment 24/7 to maintain safe working conditions during construction of the deep pits excavations.

A close working relationship with our client and liaison with other contractors working onsite enabled NCS to successfully accommodate late design changes and an accelerated programme to meet fixed equipment delivery dates, with phased handovers to achieve the overall required construction period.

The project also involved removing the anti-slip waterproofing from the jetty pedestrian walkway, and replacing it without disrupting ferry’s passengers.

The work was carried out within a tidal range of almost 5m, however working hours were restricted to minimise any hindrance to the residents living immediately adjacent to the landing jetty. NCS planned the works so that operations followed the water level down and back up again. All materials were delivered daily, by water, on the pontoon and lifted into position by chain hoists.

The final operation was to dredge the river bed below the Ferry’s pontoon, by means of an airlift.

NCS worked closely with the Client, resulting in the project being completed within budget, on time, without any safety incidents and with no disruption to the Ferry’s operations or its passengers.