News
17 September 2009
Pick Everard weathers the storm to give Benbecula Airport a safer future
Phase Two of a major coastal protection scheme for Highlands & Island Airports Limited (HIAL) on the Western Isles of Scotland is now complete. The £800,000 scheme at Benbecula Airport was designed by Pick Everard, with Bardon Hebrides of Stornoway as main contractor, assisted by local sub-contractor Angus A MacDonald Contracting Services, with local supervision by Maciver Consultancy.
Benbecula Airport is constantly at risk from storm and wave erosion and was in need of expertise to help combat the continual loss of coastline. HIAL first called in consulting engineers from Pick Everard’s Glasgow office to devise a solution in 2001. As project managers and designers, Pick Everard completed Phase One in 2003, with contractor Bardon Hebrides, saving a critical 500-metre stretch of coastline at the end of the runway and protecting the approach lighting. It was always understood that continued erosion elsewhere would eventually require more coastline to be protected. Building on the success of the first phase, Pick Everard consulting engineers returned to design and detail further work. Bardon Hebrides was again successful in winning construction work. Taking seven months to complete, Phase Two required the installation of a further 400 metres of wire gabions, filled with 10,500 tonnes of stone, including an overlap with the original work. Working in difficult winter storm conditions the high quality finish and standards of construction are testament to the excellent teamwork developed between client, designer and contractor. Benbecula Airport is a crucial lifeline for the local community. In spite of the major nature of the work, airport operations continued as normal. Minimal disruption was caused to the environment, with dune areas landscaped and replanted and coastal alignment restored using excavated materials.
"Duncan C. M. Smith, Airport Manager for HIAL Western Region, said, "Wave and storm action had continued to erode the coastline bordering Benbecula Airport. The coastal protection works will ensure this does not impact on operational areas of the airfield and will protect perimeter tracks from encroachment by the sea." He added, "We have been very impressed with the high standards of work that both the Bardon Hebrides and Angus A MacDonald teams have delivered whilst working on the project."
Trevor Graham of Pick Everard, said: “For Phase One Pick Everard consulting engineers designed with a sustainable and aesthetically sympathetic solution to a difficult problem. That work has now blended into the coast and is just about invisible. Phase Two gave us an opportunity to extend that good work with a dedicated team to ensure that the airport continues to operate”.
Angus MacLeod, Director at Bardon Hebrides comments, "We are delighted with the outcome of the contract which builds on other successful HIAL contracts carried out in the Hebrides, most recently the re-surfacing of Stornoway Airport. We remain committed to providing a high level of service using local resources whenever possible."
