UK: Kirkcaldy Sea Wall Project Kicks Off

VolkerStevin has started works on the £9million Kirkcaldy Sea Wall improvement project.

The project involves refurbishment and heightening of the sea wall to help protect the Promenade from the sea and coastal flooding.

The works will involve the repair of the wall at the basin car park, at the south end of the Esplanade, and construction of a rock armour revetment, which will break up large waves before they reach the wall.

It is expected that the wall from the basin car park to Nichol Street will be upgraded in this first phase during 2013, with the other half being completed next year.

A public drop-in office is being set up at the compound opposite Volunteer’s Green. It will be open from 15th July, and anyone interested in the upgrade is welcome to come along and find out more.

Cllr Neil Crooks, chair of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, said: “I am delighted to see this project finally get underway and that the Council have listened to local opinions that were expressed during the consultation.

“People were worried that the view over the wall would be obscured with the additional height, so the contract has been changed to take this into account. It will now include raising the whole Promenade to improve visibility, and resurfacing it in tarmac to replace the monobloc which has deteriorated over the years.

“Another good idea that came up at the consultation was about marking the sea wall with distance markers as a feature for walkers, joggers, runners and cyclists, which has now been included in the plans.

“There will be some inconvenience due to the rock revetment coming in by road instead of by sea, but the cost difference in favour of road transport has meant a better finished product can be delivered with new street furnishings and lighting.”

Ian Cussons, project manager for VolkerStevin, added: “We are delighted to be starting work on the development of the waterfront in Kirkcaldy. This sort of coastal defence work is something VolkerStevin is very experienced in and we take great pride in delivering projects like this to enhance communities up and down the country.”

VolkerStevin will be on site until November 2013, and will continue after the winter in March until completion in autumn, 2014.

[mappress]

Press Release, July 17, 2013