10.05.19
Network Rail reveals winner of Dawlish sea wall construction contract
Network Rail has awarded the contract for the construction of the first phase of the Dawlish sea wall to BAM Nuttall ahead of work starting at the end of this month.
The £80m sea wall was announced in February to protect the coastal rail line from extreme weather five years after storms collapsed the old sea wall and washed away part of the track.
The government said the new, taller sea wall will provide increased protection for the next 100 years and now BAM Nuttall has been chosen to deliver the first phase of “increasing resilience of the vital rail artery to the south west.”
Huw Jones, BAM Nuttall’s rail divisional director, stated: “We have a long association working at Dawlish, and successfully delivered emergency recovery of the railway during 2014.
“We’re proud to have been awarded this project to help secure this vital piece of the UK railway, for the community to rely on, over many years to come.”
Following detailed studies, designs and collaborations with leading marine, coastal and railway engineering experts, the work will begin at the end of May and is expected to take nine months to complete with a break during the peak summer season to minimise disruption.
Network Rail said the new plans, which received planning permission last month, would continue to provide clear views of the coast, a feature the area is famous for, as well as widening the promenade and making it safer.
David Lovell, Network Rail senior programme manager for the Dawlish sea wall project, said: “We are delighted to have awarded the contract to BAM Nuttall and we look forward to working with them on delivering this vital upgrade that will protect the rail artery to the south west for the next 100 years.
“Our plans have been drawn up by world leading engineers and it will provide greater protection to the railway and town from rising sea levels and extreme weather. Together with BAM Nuttall we will continue to update the community with how our work is progressing.”