PROJECT OUTLINE

Walters have been appointed to the new Somerset County Council Major Structures Framework along with 3 other contractors. The new Framework Agreement is anticipated to run until 2023 and will cover on highway and off highway work including bridge reconstruction, footbridge construction, geotechnical engineering, earth retaining structures and drainage, with an estimated annual spend in the region of £2m – £3m. The Framework will be managed from Walters new south west region headquarters in Avonmouth.

Walters were successful in securing the first of the framework mini competitions for ‘Urgent and/or Minor/Routine Works’ throughout the county. This work is mainly reactive in nature, requiring a prompt response and quick completion with a significant number of schemes being designed onsite.

This project saw Walters called upon to undertake urgent safety repair works to the sea wall in Blue Anchor near Minehead following reports of falling concrete and exposed reinforcement during the summer holiday season.

PROJECT DELIVERY

Walters received an urgent call for assistance from Somerset Council in July 2020. With the summer holiday season looming, large sections of defective concrete were delaminating from the Blue Anchor sea wall and falling onto the beach immediately opposite Hoburne Holiday Park leaving reinforcing bar dangerously exposed.

Walters mobilised to site quickly and established a compound set up close to the defective sea wall. Working on the beach in a strictly controlled safe zone, Walters utilised an 8t excavator with a hammer attachment to break the defective concrete off the sea wall along a 300m length. Removed concrete was collected from the beach in front of the wall and transported to the skip in the near by compound area from where it was safely removed from site to a local recycling centre. Exposed reinforcement beneath the defective concrete was then removed to ensure the safety of holiday makers using the beach.

The works at Blue Anchor were completed within a 5 day working week period, removing the danger to holiday makers and allowing the beach to reopen as normal in time for the busiest time of the year.

Nick Jacklin, Senior Engineer – Structures, for Somerset Council commented: “Thanks for your efforts on this, and please pass on my thanks to your team for getting this sorted quickly and safely, very much appreciated”.