20 | MARCH 2016 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk
Project focus: Flood defence
New gate runners and steel ropes were installed as
part of the refurbishment
a sail in the lightest wind.
The project included the
replacement of the steel ropes and
the gate runners which guide the
sluice gate into position during
normal operation. It also involved
a specialist dive team to install two
limpet cofferdams which allowed
the engineers to remove and replace
the gate running tracks under dry
conditions.
Due to the size of the replacement
sluice gate it was transported to site
in sections and then assembled ready
for the crane to return and complete
the installation. With only a minor
adjustment, the new gate was craned
into position and secured before the
top platform was replaced and bolted
in place.
With the main structure
reassembled, the new wire ropes
and all of the electrical services
were reconnected, including the
encoders which are used to control
the position of the sluice gate.
Having completed the rebuild, the
engineers commissioned the sluice
gate to ensure that all of the controls
and settings were correct and then
finished tidying the site and returning
it to the Environment Agency.
The sluice is located close to
residential properties and following
the previous project, ECS was
commended on its sympathetic
working practices that kept any
disturbance of the residents to a
minimum. ECS endeavoured to
maintain this good will during the
project to replace the existing sluice
gate which involved some extended
working hours.
Clark Williamson, Engineering
Director at ECS comments: "ECS
has developed a successful working
relationship with the EA and
this project is one of many that
demonstrates the scale of work that
can be involved. With our new 50,000
sq † fabrication facility, we have the
capacity to ensure a variety of projects
can be underway simultaneously
and our CE accreditation provides
reassurance of our professional
approach."
The project has extended the
operational life of the sluice gate
which forms an important part of the
local water control regime maintained
by the EA, and also completes the
overhaul of this structure.
ECS continues to work with the EA
as a framework contractor, as well as
other utilities and drainage boards to
provide complete turnkey engineered
maintenance solutions, including
complicated projects requiring
specialist engineering underwater.
The completed sluice gate installation is fully commissioned and operational
The sluice gate top platform is reinstalled
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