Milestone for sea wall protection
WORK to protect the Dawlish sea wall from further damage and erosion has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the installation of 143 concrete wall panels. Over the past three months, Network Rail’s contractor BAM Nuttall has installed the panels which range in size from 6.09 to 6.69 metres in size, each weighing between 11.55 to 12.95 tonnes. Behind the newly installed panels, concrete is continuing to be poured, helping backfill the gap between the new panels and existing sea wall, adding further strength. Engineers have also installed the remaining piles at Coastguard breakwater whilst improving the drainage of the track by drilling large holes – known as coring – into the stonework underneath the railway. Attention is being turned to fitting the curved ‘wave returns’ on top of the panels, which is expected to be completed by September. Work will also begin to build the new stairs down to the beach at Coastguard breakwater. While the work continues, part of the beach and sea wall path will remain closed.