Watercourse Diversion for New Office Development
Case study
Watercourse Diversion for New Office Development
Watercourse diversion and enabling works for a new office development
Scope
To provide enabling works and eliminate 152m
length of watercourse running through the site prior to the construction of occupying 244,254 sq ft of manufacturing space and office space in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Key Aspects
- Topsoil strip and storage
- Grading and laser levelling
- 76 no Concrete Box Culvert 1.8m high x 3.6m wide with a weight of 15 tons each
- 40,000 tons of imported sub-base aggregate
- 356 m of 300mm diameter pipework
- 450m of 600mm diameter pipework
- Hydrobrake chamber and other manholes
- 2 no swales Top soil was initially stripped and stockpiled on site for later re-use. 40,000 tons of aggregate was imported to create the appropriate levels, laser levelled, compacted and tested to ensure accurate load bearing to design requirements.
During excavation and construction works, water
flow from the existing watercourse had to managed to ensure safe working areas. Each 15 ton section of concrete box culvert was carefully lifted into position, located and sealed. A total of 1140 tons of box culvert over 152m was successfully positioned.
Outfall works and a comprehensive system of
pipework, swales and chambers were also constructed to manage on-site drainage. Location of Box Culvert Diversion
Locating, Levelling and Sealing of Culvert Sections
Project Images
Challenges
Biosecurity
Health & Safety Moving machinery from one property to another
often requires biosecurity and environmental
All works were carried out compliantly under CDM
protocols to minimise transfer of contaminants or 2015 protocols requiring Construction Phase Plans invasive species such as black grass. together with comprehensive assessment of all risks and method statements to minimise risks for Working with Water all work elements.
Working in or around water poses hazards for
Lifting operations in particular posed specific employees arising from the natural environment. challenges to ensure no damage occurred to The presence of vermin and exposure to culvert sections. leptospirosis twinned with the possibility of drowning, all add to the normal risks involving accidents concerning machinery and moving parts.
Flood risk Works taking place in live watercourses also pose
By far the biggest issue and key at every stage; a problems arising from adverse weather and lot of consideration and design work for temporary increased rainfall. It was necessary to monitor and works had to be put in place to manage the risk of adjust programmes to accommodate and minimise flooding. risks. Pumping out of accumulating / rising ground water is often necessary to ensure safe working
Large volumes of water coming through the
conditions. drainage network had to temporarily dammed off to make the workings dry. This was managed with 2 Cooperation pumps one 8” and one 6” to cope with the volume As with any large project where multiple of water that needed to be over pumped for the stakeholders are involved, co-operation is key duration of the works 24/7. factor in success. Sweeting Bros Ltd are adept at managing multi-agency stakeholders.
Planning a watercourse or environmental project?
Speak to Sweeting Bros about practical land drainage, water management, environmental and civil engineering works.