Groyne Project Diary

Last update: 09 May 2009

Five New Rock Groynes for Poole

Project Diary 2008-2009

Project Week 23
05 May	Construction of all five groynes is now complete. All that remains is to clear the site and reinstate some areas of the promenade. The photograph (top right) show the groynes looking west toward Sandbanks with the Purbeck hills beyond.
Project Week 22
28 April	This week we are finishing off the work on Groyne 4 and starting to clear the site.
Project Week 20
15 April	Groynes 1,2,3 & 5 are complete with handrails and lifebuoys fitted to the ends of the groynes. This section of the beach is now open. Groyne 4 - work continues placing rock on groyne.
Project Week 18
02 April	Groynes 1 & 2 completed. Groyne 3 - infilling with small rock to plug the larger gaps between stones. Groyne 4 - ramp construction completed, see photo top right. Construction workers pleased with their efforts. Work now starts on the walkway out to sea over the existing outfall. Groyne 5 - walkways have been placed and joints between the planks have been filled. Rock is now being placed up to the edge of the walkway. A riddle bucket has been sourced to sieve the sand to remove small discarded rocks; once that's been done the beach can be cleaned and opened to the public. Safety railings, signs and lifebuoys will soon be installed at the end of groynes.
Project Week 17
26 March	Groynes 1 & 2 - placing the rock to finish the groynes Groyne 3 - ramp and walkway sections ready for concrete to complete them Groyne 4 - ready to start ramp slab construction Groyne 5 - ramp slab construction in progress.
Week 16
19 March	Groyne 1 - ramp and walkways now complete, section of beach being cleaned ready to re-open. Groyne 2 - ramp complete, placing walkway sections Groyne 3 - pouring concrete for ramp Groyne 5 - placing rock
17 March	Groyne 1 - the last sections of walkway have been placed ready for concreting Groyne 2, 3 & 4 - work progresses on the ramps Groyne 5 - placing rock at the tail end of the groyne
Week 15
09 March	Groyne 1 - the ramp is almost complete; just the centre section to finish. Groyne 2 - work has started on the slabs for the top of the ramp Groyne 3 - sand has been backfilled around the ramp and is ready for the slab Groyne 4 - the last sections of ramp wall are being cast Groyne 5 - ramp walls are complete and the sand is being backfilled
	Responses to Frequently Asked Questions have been published in response to the many enquiries about ramp construction (additional signage on site)
Week 12
20 February	Groyne 1 - ramp wall finished and backfilled, ramp slab construction underway. Groyne 2 - ramp wall completed, awaiting backfill. Groynes 3 & 5 - ramp wall construction continues. Groyne 4 - excavation for the ramp underway.
Week 11
12 February	The walkway has been cast in place at Groyne 1 and work has started on Groyne 2. The ramp at Groyne 1 is nearing completion. Rock is being place at Groyne 2 this week, making use of the low spring tides, and the piles for the navigation markers have been driven for Groynes 1,2,3 and 5
11 February	"Ancient tree stump turns up on Poole beach" (Daily Echo story)
Week 10
02 February	Despite today's snow progress continues apace on the ramps for Groynes 1,2,3 and 5. Work started today on placing the walkway sections for Groyne 1, with the first pile caps in position.
Week 8
22 January	This week's neap tides (higher sea levels and a reduced tidal range) restricts seaward groyne construction. Work still continues, however, on the ramps for Groynes 1 & 2. We have also started removing the old timber groynes to the west of Branksome Chine.
Week 7
15 January	This week we took advantage of low spring tides to work on the ends of Groynes 1 and 2. Work has also started on placing concrete for the ramp at Groyne 1 and on piling for the ramp on Groyne 2. The first of the precast concrete walkway sections has also been delivered to site.
12 January	Work continues despite the strong south westerly winds today: Groyne 1 - most of the rock has been put in place and piling for the access ramp is half completed Groyne 2 - rock has been placed down to high water mark Groyne 3 - rock placement continues
Week 6
09 January	At Branksome Chine Wessex Water sink a new 350mm outfall pipe to the seabed, part of a modernisation project that runs alongside groyne construction [aerial photos].
06 January	Christmas break over and work resumes at Groyne 1 with the construction of the access ramp to the landward end of the groyne. Rock is delivered and placed at Groyne 2, and at Groyne 3 sand is excavated in preparation for the bedding layer.
Week 5
23 December	No rock deliveries or construction work since the 19th. This week we've been disposing of (recycling) timbers from the old groynes, tidying the site and opening up as much as possible of the Branksome Chine car park. Work resumes 05 January.
Week 4
19 December	Work starts on the bedding layer for Groyne 2.
18 December	Work has continued this week placing the rock for Groyne 1. It is hoped to get most of the rock placed at this first groyne before the Christmas break.
17 December	Visit to site by Councillors, press and partners
15 December	Continuing to place rock at Groyne 1 All piling for walkways now completed; the piling rig is scheduled to leave site tomorrow.
Week 3
12 December	Groyne 5 piling completed. At Groyne 1 work has started to place rock at seaward end.
11 December	The project team visited Portland quarry today (pictures). At the beach piling on groynes 2 & 3 has been completed and work has started on Groyne 5. Excavation has started on the foundation for Groyne 1.
	Groyne Nos 1-5 are shown on the downloadable plan (right)
10 December	Piling started today for the supports to the groyne walkways; Groyne 1 piles have been completed
09 December	First piles for walkways arrived today
08 December	Precast concrete sections for the groyne walkways are being manufactured at Dean & Dyball's yard in Ringwood to be brought to site when required. Meantime rock deliveries continue and the old timber groynes are still being removed.
Week 2
03 December	The first deliveries of rock arrive at the beach; work continues to remove old timber groynes
01 December	Work continues on making up the platform for rock deliveries, and starts on the removal of old timber groynes.
Week 1
28 November	Setting up site
27 November	More of the same today - site security and temporary platform construction.
26 November	Construction started of a temporary stone platform which will be used for unloading rock from delivery vehicles.
25 November	Dean & Dyball continue to fence off the working area, and start setting out the location of the groynes.
24 November	First day on site. Dean & Dyball set up a working area on beach and start to mobilise plant.
If you have any comments or photographs that you would like to add to our pages then please email the project manager, David Robson.