Concrete progress: Portsbridge abutment poured
Progress continues to “pour in” with the help of the summer sunshine, as the first section of the Portsbridge abutment (the slope between the slipway and carpark) has now been successfully poured with concrete.
Situated beside the slipway and adjacent to the Portsbridge car park this abutment will support the tie in between the slipway and bridge, ensuring a seamless and resilient connection.
As shown in the latest aerial image, construction is visibly advancing. Two final areas remain before this phase is complete: one final section of the abutment, and one final section at the base of the slipway.
Once these are completed, both structures will be fully formed – marking a major step forward in the scheme’s construction programme and bringing us closer to a more flood-resilient coastline.
Embankment on the rise
If you’ve driven along the motorway recently, you may have spotted the growing embankment taking shape as part of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme — and it’s making steady progress!
This image shows the embankment as it advances along Ports Creek, with the section near Peronne Road Bridge already reaching its final profile. That means the height is now at its designed level, and the sloped revetment facing the creek has been shaped to its finished form.
Our contractor, Knights Brown, is pressing ahead with the build. The embankment is being constructed using a combination of “site-won material” – excavated from earlier phases of the project – and locally imported material, currently being delivered at an impressive rate of 800 tonnes per day.
We’ve now received over 50% of the total material required, so we’re well on our way to completing this vital section of the scheme.
Making waves at Moorings Way Infant School
Our team recently had the pleasure of bringing our wave tank demonstration to Moorings Way Infant School, where we engaged with both Year R groups in a fun and educational session about sea defences.
The clever young students were not only well-behaved but also incredibly engaged, sharing imaginative ideas about how we protect our coastlines. It was truly inspiring to see such young minds grasp the basics of coastal engineering.
We demonstrated how different types of sea defences work and judging by the insightful comments and eager participation, we may have met a few future coastal engineers in the making!
A big thank you to Moorings Way Infant School for having us. We had a fantastic time and look forward to more opportunities to share our passion for coastal science with the next generation.
Interested in our team visiting your school?
Still making a splash at 90!
Hilsea Lido update
This month marks the 90th anniversary of Hilsea Lido.
Since first opening its gates the lido has been far more than just a swimming pool. It’s a place full of memories, from sun-soaked summers, icy dips, and the unforgettable scent of chips and chlorine.
But it’s not a one-trick pony – over the decades the lido has welcomed dancers, Olympic swimmers, aquatic galas, roller skaters, hockey matches, competitive swim meets, body building, and even a water circus. If you want to know more about the history of the site, check this out
On Monday 21 July there will be an exciting announcement from the lido – if you want to be in the know, subscribe to the bulletin:
