Minister Visits Northern Gateway Scheme

The First Minister of Wales, Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones, has visited the Northern Gateway Flood Defense Strengthening Scheme, in Deeside, as part of his commitment to kick-start the development of the largest strategic employment site in North Wales.

On visiting the site, the First Minister was given a tour of the current flood prevention works and a sheet piling demonstration, using a hydraulic piling press technique.

VolkerStevin was appointed to deliver the flood defense strengthening works in October 2014. The scheme, which will assist in the delivery of the £Multi-million Northern Gateway project, is broken down into three packages and involves strengthening and reinforcing the existing flood defenses along the banks of the River Dee.

The company, working with subsidiary company VolkerGround Engineering, is installing 1.5km of sheet pile wall along a length of the existing embankment, using the hydraulic piling press technique to minimize noise and vibration impact on migrating fish in the River Dee and resident wildlife within the embankment.

VolkerStevin will also reinstate the bank’s to the intended standard of protection and raise its height to a defined level wherever the crest of the defense is low. This will also assist in protecting residential and business properties at nearby Garden City and the ‘John Summers’ building; a red brick Grade II listed office building which overlooks the river and is associated with the towns former iron works.

Work is expected to be completed by June 2015.

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