A major flood defense scheme that will significantly reduce flood risk in Shoreham and East Lancing has taken a step towards completion this week, with piling works at 2 of the project’s 10 phases now finished.
The huge jack-up barge, that has been working to install one of the new tidal flood defense piled walls in the town center since November, will leave the site next week having completed its phase of the work, reported the Environment Agency.
According to EA, of the planned 10 construction phases, 3 have been worked on since the project started in October 2016, and work so far has been progressing well.
The scheme has been designed to improve the current ageing flood defenses, and when the whole project is complete in 2018 it will reduce the tidal flood risk to thousands of homes and a significant number of commercial properties in the area. The Environment Agency has employed the services of contractors Team Van Oord to carry out construction of this ambitious project.
Russell Long, Flood Team Leader at the Environment Agency , said: “ Work on the scheme is progressing well, and further phases of work are set to begin later in the year. We are aware of the impact that the development of these schemes can have on local communities, and we thank the residents of Shoreham for their understanding during the works. ”
The Environment Agency also announced that the Adur Ferry Bridge will need to be closed for a few hours when the jack-up barge leaves Shoreham next week (starting 27 February), and shuttle buses will be provided during this time. Exact timings of this operation will depend on weather and site conditions.