Having completed a project to rejuvenate part of the seafront in Herne Bay in 2010, leading contractor Provian Construction secured additional works in January this year to replace rocks which have been dislodged by rough seas at Hampton Pier. The £20,000 contract entails the supply and placement of 200 tonnes of rock armour, each piece weighing between 1 and 3 tonnes, to the breakwater in Herne Bay.
Provian Construction has extensive experience in the construction and maintenance of sea defences. Working with a number of local authorities, it is able to provide a wide range of services to clients, from the repair of sea walls to beach recycling.
Sourced in Leicestershire, the rock armour was transported to Herne Bay on articulated lorries and offloaded using a 360° tracked excavator fitted with a rock grapple. From there, the rock is loaded onto a 25 tonne dumper truck and transported along the breakwater to another excavator which places the rock armour onto the seaward face of breakwater. A primary sea defence, the breakwater helps to prevent the seaside town of Herne Bay from flooding during storms. The breakwater remained closed to the public throughout the works, which finished on February 25th.
Sitting in the shadow of Herne Bay’s wind turbines, which had their cabling installed by Provian Construction’s Civil Engineering team, the replacement of the hardwearing rock armour will ensure the popular seaside location stays flood free for many tides to come.
Provian Construction offers a comprehensive service within the sensitive coastal environment dealing with many aspects of coastal defence strategies including beach replenishment works, groyne repairs and the movement of foreshore materials.