The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) have issued a further update on the ongoing works of King Edward VIII Pier project as it reached ‘significant milestone’ this week.
The milestone was reached when the casing to enable the installation of the first of two permanent 30-metre dolphin piles was lifted into place.
This work was delayed by a recent spell of bad weather and the wind being too strong to allow the load to be safely lifted.
Weighing 21 tonnes, the temporary casing is more than 20 metres long and has a diameter of 2.5 metres.
King Edward VIII Pier
The role of the casing is to create a cofferdam to support the sea bed material and allow construction work to be undertaken.
Once the casing is in place, the sediment on the sea bed is removed; the rock below it can then be drilled to the required depth without sediment falling in.
When the hole has been drilled to the required depth, around 7 metres into the rock, the permanent dolphin pile will be installed and fixed into position.
Once that’s been achieved, the casing will be removed and the process repeated to install the second dolphin pile.
In line with the approach taken to install the six temporary piles used to create the drilling platform, the two permanent piles are being drilled into position in order to minimise noise disturbance for nearby residents and the marine environment.
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