ENABLING works in advance of the major redevelopment of Elizabeth Harbour are expected to begin next year.
The update from harbourmaster Captain Bill Sadler comes around two years since planning permission was granted for the project, which forms part of Ports of Jersey’s wider Harbour Master Plan.
Ports announced last year that a delivery partnership, led by VolkerFitzpatrick, VolkerStevin and Geomarine – with specialist supply chain partners Arup and Boskalis – were working on the detailed design for the construction work that will reconfigure the harbour.
Captain Sadler explained that there were a number of planning conditions that needed to be discharged before major works could commence, though he said that “there will be enabling works starting next year”.
The project will involve the creation of a suspended deck to bring together the Harbour’s ‘Load on, Load off’ (‘Lo Lo’) and ‘Roll on, Roll off’ (Ro Ro) freight operations.
This will require some reclamation and dredging, and the construction of a concrete wall and revetment to absorb wave energy and protect against erosion.
As well as reconfiguring the harbour to expand and improve freight facilities, Elizabeth Terminal will be replaced and external public areas will be redesigned.
“It’s a big regeneration project,” Captain Sadler noted. “The first big handful is the marine works. The dredging, the suspended deck, the land reclamation – that’s about two years of work.
“Then you’ve got the reorganisation of all the land-based stuff. So moving the restricted zones, construction of a distribution building, the terminal. I would divide those up into two chunks and they’re probably a couple of years each as well.
“If you think about the project as a whole regeneration, it’s probably closer to six years from start to finish.”
Captain Sadler also highlighted the importance of “ensuring we start at the right time”, pointing out that additional freight volume stemming from the construction of Jersey’s new hospital would also need to be taken into consideration.
