Barrier wall removal begins
Magnox at Bradwell Site has received permission from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to undertake the removal of the barrier wing walls in the Blackwater Estuary following a public consultation and Environmental Impact Assessment earlier this year.
The barrier wall will undergo a transformation with the removal of the wing walls which together extend 224 metres.
The steel structure is no longer required by Bradwell Site as the wing walls were designed to separate the discharge and intake areas of the river to prevent inefficient re-circulation of the cooling water when the site was operational.
The central concrete structure will be removed at a later date when a separate stakeholder consultation and marine licence will be required.
Two backhoe barges and two crane barges will be mobilised and towed to the site. The walls are constructed from interlocking sheet piles which will be cut by a diver below the sea bed and lifted onto the pontoons so they can be transported to a waste processing facility for recycling. Once the work is complete, the river bed will be surveyed to ensure no material has been left behind and that the excavated material has been placed back into the trenches.
This programme of works which starts in October and is expected to last approximately 12 weeks, will be undertaken by Costain and Red 7 Marine who specialise in marine works.
Gary Lott, Magnox project manager said: “A notice to mariners has been distributed advising details of the project and the safety exclusion zone necessary for the protection of sea users and workers. Other useful information is available on the Magnox website www.magnoxsites.com.”
"This work forms part of Bradwell's commitment to decommission the site and represents a significant milestone along that path."
Stakeholder Consultation: The project has gone through a vigorous marine licencing process led by the MMO; an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project has been produced allowing statutory consultees and members of the public to comment on the project. The decision notice and licence was granted mid-September allowing works to start during October in order to minimise the Environmental Impact of the project.
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