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News
May 2010
It’s been a very busy year so far for
the project with the installation of the Back Up Flood gates
at Junction Lock attracting coverage in March from many of
the South Wests media teams. Across the Cumberland Basin site
works are progressing very well so we’d like to take
an opportunity to update you on the current status of our
operations.
Phase 1 Junction Lock -
works successfully completed;
• Swing Bridge – This involved
the conversion of the previously water powered system to
hydraulic oil and involved the challenge of retro fitting
various senescent mechanisms originally installed over 85
years ago.
Phase 2 Junction Lock - works successfully
completed;
• North and South Side Junction Lock –
The replacement of the timber back up flood gates originally
installed in 1870. A similar operation to the replacement
of the lock gates at Junction Lock (performed by Bam Nuttall
on behalf of Bristol City Council in March of last year).
Phase 2 Entrance Lock - works are scheduled
for completion July/August 2010
• North and South Side - The conversion
of both pairs of gates from the 19th Century water powered
system to hydraulic oil. All hydraulic systems have been
installed including the new Ram arms. Testing of the gates
and systems is now underway.
• North and South Side - The construction
of five new control buildings. Pump Systems units have been
installed and testing is currently underway.
With regard to information required for road works taking
place within the area by other contractors we would respectfully
advise any enquiries to be directed towards the Bristol City
Highways Network Management Team.
Thank you again for all your support over the past months.
Previous Operations/News:-
March 2010
Junction Lock - Refurbishment and upgrading
of the Swing Bridge hydraulic system at Junction Lock –
We are now moving into the very final phase
of the refurbishment and upgrade of the swing bridge. Testing
for the control systems is currently underway.
Junction Lock - Back up flood stop mitre gates
– The construction of the Ram
pits is nearing completion. The Ram arms will be fitted mid
March. Delivery and Installation of the New Gates is expected
week commencing March 22nd or March 29th 2010. Weather dependant,
as the gates are being delivered from the Ravestein fabrication
plant in the Netherlands.
Entrance Lock - Inner & Outer gates
– Ram pit works to the inner and
outer gates are continuing, as is the construction of the
5nr control buildings. Pipe works for the Hydraulic systems
and the Ram arms to the inner gates are in the process of
installation.
January 2010
Happy New Year and we hope you had a very Merry Christmas.
Now that the snow has cleared we would like to take this
opportunity to update local residents within the Cumberland
Basin area of our scheduled works for January / February 2010.
Refurbishment and upgrading of the Swing Bridge
hydraulic system at Junction Lock – We
are now moving into the final phases of the refurbishment
and upgrade of the swing bridge. We have 2 more weekend road
closures booked for testing and commissioning of the swing
bridge. The dates are as follows:
8pm Friday – January 29th – 6am Monday February
1st
8pm Friday – February 5th – 6am Monday February
8th
Bristol City Docks have informed us that there is to be a
free ferry service running from the Pump House Steps to Nova
Scotia Place (Sat/Sun - 10am-6pm - return journeys approx
every ten mins). There is also a pedestrian route via the
steps at Plimsoll Bridge. Also during the w/c 1st and 8th
Feb 2010 we will be undertaking intermittent closures of the
bridge for up to 1 hour to progress the testing.
Junction Lock - Back up flood stop mitre gates
– We have commenced excavation for the
new flood gates ram pits and are programmed to construct the
north and south ram pits by the end of February 2010.
Entrance Lock - Inner & Outer gates –
We are progressing with the ram pit works to the inner gates
and 4 of the 5nr control buildings have commenced their construction.
October 2009
The upgrading of the hydraulic systems at Junction
Lock Swing Bridge has now commenced. In order to minimise
the impact of our works we have agreed with Bristol City Council
and their Network Traffic Management team to schedule the
bridge closures for off peak weekend periods. The first four
of our eight agreed closures are to take place on the following
weekends. We do apologise for any inconvenience caused and
hope you will contact us should you wish to discuss any issues.
8pm Friday - October 9th – 6am Monday October 12th
8pm Friday - October 16th – 6am Monday October 19th
8pm Friday - October 23th – 6am Monday October 26th
8pm Friday - October 30th – 6am Monday November 2nd
Please
use this link to view the diversionary routes.
September 2009
The Bristol City Docks Project is currently embarking
upon its second phase, so this is a timely opportunity for
the team to meet with the locals and have a second bash at
the Bristol Dragon Boat Race… more>
We are pleased to announce that the following operations
have been completed successfully.
1. Replacement of Upper Gates at Junction Lock.
The North Junction Lock Gates have been in place for over
a hundred and forty years and although they have stood the
test of time their semi-wooden construction was beginning
to show signs of natural decay. This required the removal
of the gates and installing of two new gate leaves fabricated
by Dutch specialists Ravestein. Two new control buildings
have also been constructed housing the new Junction Lock Gate’s
hydraulic operating systems.
2. Up-grading of the sluice gates at Nova Dam and
in Junction Lock from water powered hydraulic system to an
electro-hydraulic system.
This has involved the refurbishment of the sluices and re-instatement
of new hydraulic connections.
We are now commencing with Phase Two of the operations.
(Please see Operations Page
& Fact
Sheet for more details).
Having achieved approval for Phase One’s operations
on schedule we would now like to take this opportunity to
thank the local community and businesses for their patience
and support.
We shall now be concentrating our efforts on limiting the
impact of the next phase. Through continued communication
we hope to confirm our efforts to local residents and ensure
that Phase Two works are equally as successful.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us through our website
links page or ask a member of staff
at site for information at anytime.
March 2009
BAM Nuttalls Bristol City Lock Gates Project became the centre
of attention for the city this week as local news crews descended
to film the arrival of the new gates.... more>
January 2009
Having experienced the coldest start to January for 12 years
Bristol’s docks are now returning to normality! Temperatures
fell as low as -6C in some parts of the city and frozen waters
even forced the Bristol Ferry Boat Company to cancel its services.
This was due to large stretches of ice, in places up to three
inches thick, which made it difficult for ferries to reach
landing stages and also was causing damage to the vessels.
The Cumberland Basin (which lies next to our site compound)
was completely frozen over for several nights running, a very
rare occurrence for the city indeed!
Nonetheless current works on the two Operating Houses continue.
Located north and south of the North Junction Lock the brickwork
has been laid and the nautical design influences of the buildings
are now becoming apparent.
Other Lock Gate related works are now proceeding, these include
the excavations for the Ram Pits (housing for the hydraulic
arms). The operations will also involve the cutting of the
harbour wall with a specialist diamond wire saw and the removal
of the three ton coping stones to a safe location for storage.
We will again be minimising the impact of these works by
limiting the noisiest operations to between 8am and 5pm Monday
to Friday.
The information gained from performing the limpet dam surveys
has now been implemented into the new Lock Gate specifications
and as for the old lock Gates, the two eighty tonne leaves
will be lifted off next week and stored in Cumberland Basin.
There they will await crane lifts which will involve a temporary
(48hr) minor diversion on Brunel Lock Road.
Divers will return next week to install temporary plates
over the Nova Dam sluice gates; these will enable our works
there to be performed safely, let’s hope those freezing
temperatures don’t return if only for their sakes!
Weekly Operations:-
Dec 15.08
Concrete slab pours for Engineers Control buildings North
& South side Junction Lock. Trenchwork for hydraulic power
cable runs to the Nova Dam sluice gates. Survey centre press
of Junction Lock Swing Bridge.
Dec 11. 08
BBC & ITV camera crews visiting for filming of Installation
of Limpet Dam to South Side Junction Lock Gate harbour wall,
pumping out for survey. Examination of Lock Gate coin.
Dec 10.08
North Junction Lock – Removal of Lock gates, installing
of Limpet dam, surveying of pintels and replacing of gates.
The 140 year old lock gate’s weigh around 80 tons each
and in order to ensure their integrity is retained, a frame
has been constructed which will be fitted before lifting off
of the pintels by the crane barge.
The limpet dam (the tall purpose built steel structure pictured)
will then be offered up to the harbour wall from the barge
and as the water is pumped out it will be held in position
by external water pressure, enabling the engineers to enter,
survey the pintels and harbour wall.
Further works continue to the Engineers control buildings
and Nova Dam sluice gates.
Dec 10. 08
Temporary removal of South Side Junction Lock Gate and sling
gate to Crane Barge.
Dec 05. 08
Installing of Limpet Dam to North Side Junction Lock Gate
harbour wall, pump out for survey.
Dec 04. 08
Temporary removal of North Side Junction Lock Gate and sling
gate to Crane Barge.
Dec 02. 08
Closure of North Junction Lock for Crane barge lift of Limpet
dam and transport to Lock Gates.
Nov 24. 08
Crane Barge arrival awaiting tides and weather permitting.
Nov 23. 08
Crane barge set sail from Teignmouth travelling approx 179
miles.
Nov 19. 08
Limpet dam due to arrive on low loader arctic, Crane lift
to holding area on South bank of Cumberland Basin.
Nov 10. 08
Fabricate gate lifting frame for Limpet Dam survey, and barge
gate supports. |
