After three weeks of waiting, the weather finally thawed last Friday and made it possible for the first concrete to be poured on the Grand Pier since the re-build started last September. Concrete was pumped from the shore along the entire length of the waist and contractors were able to create the floor of the 3rd floor plant room and the 250 seater conference room at the front of the second floor overlooking the town.
A relieved Richard Sutton of John Sisk & Co, the Main Contractor said, 'we have been waiting for over three weeks for the weather to break so we could pour the concrete, if it wasn't bad enough having to pump it a quarter of a mile, the inclement weather meant it kept freezing before it got to where we needed it. We are pleased to have finally managed to get it out there and weather permitting, we hope to do another large pour next Wednesday'.
Visitors to the seafront can now see the beginning of a 100-metre long and 20 metre high scaffolding ramp being created in front of the new Pavilion. This is to give access so the roof sheets can be rolled at the shore in one piece and carried along the waist and onto the roof. Each piece is over 80 metres long, this is to ensure that there are no joins that could give rise to troublesome leaks in the future.
They are usually rolled and lifted straight onto the roof but the machine that is used weighs more than 25 tons and cannot be taken onto the Pier so the sheets will have to be carried out and lifted into place by hand. Owner Kerry Michael said, 'this is just one of the many logistical problems we have had to overcome on this project. I can only applaud the way the contractors (John Sisk) continue to overcome the unique challenges that are being thrown at them. Let's hope the worst of the weather is now behind us and we can manage to claw back the lost time'.
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