The Grand Pier moves into constructive phase

After £9 million has been spent on clearing the debris, driving in piles and making good the basic structure of the Pier, visible construction has now started.

In the last three weeks, approximately one third of the structural metal decking units have been laid. The metal decking units, made from polyurethane sandwiched in between 5mm steel sheets, are usually used in ship building. They are nearly 10 metres long and 2 metres wide and are being placed on to new structural steels to form the deck of the Pier’s new main pavilion.

The metal decking units have been manufactured in Holland and then shipped to Southampton where a special coating and paint is applied giving a minimum life span of at least 60 years and a minimum maintenance free period of 30 years.

Local company William Haley of East Brent is fabricating the steel structure for the new Pavilion and they are expected to start erecting it next week. The framework will be lifted into place by a 180 tonne crane that operates from a barge floating next to the Pier.

There is approximately 1,100 tonnes of steel in the new structure and project managers anticipate that they will be erecting more than 100 tonnes per week.

Photo shows: Aerial view of progress on the floor of the Pavilion