09 June 2017
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) will be starting to heighten the sea wall along from the Gunsite in July to help combat the flooding problems that occur.
The area around the Gunsite and the bottom of Beaumont has been flooded on several occasions when there have been storms and high spring tides. In recent times these incidents have worsened due to climate change and it was agreed that something needed to be done to improve the situation.
In 2015, DfI received positive public feedback when consulting on its plans to heighten the sea wall. Since then planning for the project has continued and funding has been obtained and construction will go ahead starting on Monday 3 July for a 14 week period.
The project will be undertaken in two phases. During the first phase, the sea wall will be heightened by a foot running from the slip at the Gunsite eastwards for 212 metres to Le Perquage car park. The second phase will continue heightening the wall further eastwards for 118 metres and will be undertaken when funding is available, hopefully in 2018.
The wall construction will incorporate a curve on the sea side to deflect waves. This a common shape of sea wall found around the Island and is similar to sea wall construction throughout the world.
The site work will be undertaken in 50 metre sections behind noise reduction hoarding. It will limit the space available to promenade users to just the designated cycle path and green verge. This will mean increased caution will be required in the area, which will be appropriately signed and cyclists will be required to dismount.
The project is being undertaken at this time of the year as the risk of storms is lower. Also in the summer working hours can be longer and the site is visible longer for safety reasons.
Infrastructure Minister Deputy Eddie Noel, said “The residents of the Gunsite and Beaumont area have suffered, particularly in recent years, from flooding which has caused distress and property damage. I am pleased that we will soon be able to deliver this project which will considerably improve the situation for them.”
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