Balfour Beatty has started work on an innovative scheme to improve flood defences at the Port of Tilbury in Essex.
The existing port lock gates, installed in 1928, will be replaced with dual-function lock gates and the Environment Agency’s tidal barrier, constructed in 1980-81, will be removed.
Work, which started this month, is expected to last for 18 months, with the new lock gates planned for installation in late 2021/early 2022.
The Environment Agency’s Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 programme is leading the project.
Paul Dale, Port of Tilbury’s asset and site director said: “This is a very important project and an impressive engineering solution that will provide flood defences for homes and businesses in the area for decades to come while ensuring the smooth marine operations at The Port of Tilbury.”
Helena Henao Fernandez, Environment Agency deputy programme director and Sam Stevens, TEAM2100 delivery partner programme director said: “We are excited with TEAM2100 progressing the Tilbury dual function lock gate project into the final stage of construction. This is a complex project that has required extensive planning, complex design solutions and strong collaboration between the Environment Agency, Port of Tilbury and the TEAM2100 delivery team. We look forward to playing our part in bringing this project to a safe conclusion, so that it can provide critical flood protection to Tilbury and the local communities for many years to come.”
