Dredging commences at Anchorsholme Long Sea Outfall
United Utilities are now working on the bigger phase of work: building a
new storm water pumping station to replace the existing station on the
promenade. New structures will allow UU to screen and control what flows
through the new pumping station and UU are also laying a new extended outfall
pipe, which will discharge the excess screened storm water out to sea.
The contract for
the Long Sea Outfall was awarded to J. Murphy & Sons’ Natural Resources &
Marine sector, drawing on its specialist marine services (formerly known as
Land & Marine).
At 2.5m diameter
and 3.75km in length, the Anchorsholme polyethylene outfall pipe is believed to
be the largest in diameter and length in the UK.
Part of a £100
million investment over five years, Anchorsholme long sea outfall forms part of
the United Utilities’ strategy to improve the bathing water quality along the
Fylde Coast. The outfall capacity is specifically designed to allow storm
waters to flow far enough out to sea to prevent it affecting bathing water
quality.
The planning,
procurement and design stages of the project are now almost complete.
Mobilisation on-site took place in March 2017. The works will involve the
construction of a 500m long sheet piled cofferdam on the beach with dredging
operations being carried out by Murphy’s subcontractor Rohde Nielsen out to
3.75km offshore.
The pipeline has
been towed from Norway to Lough Foyle, where it will be assembled prior to
towing to Blackpool for installation in August, followed by trench backfilling
and diffuser installation works. The Murphy work barge, LM Constructor, will be
used for the marine operations including installing hundreds of large concrete
collars and ballast weights needed to ensure the stability of the polyethylene
pipeline. The outfall project is due for completion in December 2017 and the
pumping station project and park scope runs on well into 2018. The park doesn’t
reopen until circa 2019/20.
Marine Project Quality Assurance support and supervision services are being
carried out by the Anthony D Bates Partnership (ADBP) LLP for United Utilities.