Posted on February 18, 2021
A dredging operation to remove silt from Peel Marina will resume later this month.
The operation is able to restart because the construction sector has since returned to work after the circuit breaker lockdown.
Following from last year’s works, the dredging process will again involve using a long reach excavator on a floating barge, with the material transported 450 metres in purpose-designed trailers to a temporary drainage pool constructed in a field upstream from the marina, beyond the power station site.
Work on this temporary ’silt lagoon’ began in January last year, at Ballaterson Farm field which will be reinstated after the planned dismantling of the pool in the summer of 2022.
Dredging then started in March, and the silt has been drying out in the 2.5m deep pool, which measures about 70m by 100m.
Prior to this, the last time dredging work was carried out was in 2015.
Moving the material involves two tractors and trailers undertaking a total of 30 return journeys a day during the dredging works, running 7am to 7pm every day.
The project aims to remove 44,000 tonnes of silt, which was deemed potentially toxic and includes lead and cadmium.
A total of 16,000 tonnes of silt was removed from the marina during 2020, in a dredging process that began in March but was soon interrupted by the first lockdown.
The project to remove potentially contaminated silt from the marina will cost the taxpayer £6.9 million, including plans for a new problem waste facility.
The second dredging phase had been scheduled to begin in spring of this year.
A road closure order has been put in place to cover the path the trailers will take from the boat yard on East Quay to the former steam railway line heritage trail.
Drivers and pedestrians can pass through the area, however, traffic management will be in place to indicate when it is safe to proceed.
’Road closed’ signs will be displayed during each period of closure between 7am-7pm until the end of May. The heritage trail from Mill Road to the drainage pool is subject to a full-time road closure for the duration of the dredging programme, but access will be maintained at all times for businesses and residents.
Tim Baker MHK, Minister for Infrastructure, said: ’I’m pleased that this work is now able to resume, after the challenges of our recent Covid-19 circuit breaker lockdown.
’I want to thank the team for their hard work and look forward to the completion of this project.
’This series of planned works marks the end of our main dredging project, requiring only annual or bi-annual maintenance in the years to come.’
