Littlehampton Arun Tidal Walls Project Completed

Business & Finance

VolkerGround Engineering has now completed the installation of over 3,000 tonnes of steel sheet piles and sections over a 2.5km section of the River Arun in Littlehampton. 

The work, which commenced in November 2013, is part of a major project being completed by parent company VolkerStevin, in a partnership with the Environment Agency, Arun District Council, West Sussex County Council, Littlehampton Town Council and Littlehampton Harbor Board, to help improve the local area against tidal flood defenses along the East Bank of the River Arun.

The new flood defenses consist of sheet piling, concrete walls and earth embankments. The scheme now protects 748 residential and 340 commercial properties, including 696 properties in deprived areas to a 1 in 300 year standard. The project also improved the walkway along the riverside from the town to the beach.

Working north from the river mouth, VolkerGround Engineering used a variety of piling techniques to cope with the different working environments. Over the mid-section of the project where land access was not possible, piling work was completed from the river itself using a hydraulically operated jack up barge.

Chris Thomas, director of VolkerGround Engineering, said: “Site access and varied ground conditions were challenging on this project, but with our engineering skills and wide plant holding we were able to cope and complete the piling within the agreed programs.

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