Rock T-Head Groynes
The armoured rock for the works (18,000t approx) will be delivered to the site by sea, either by rock barge or by ship. The average weight of the rocks will be about 5 tonnes. A chosen vessel will arrive at the beach during a high tide before unloading the rock onto the beach. The rock groynes will require a geotextile foundation. This will be delivered to the site in rolls on lorries.
For the rock t-head works there will typically be 3-4 grabs (tracked excavators with a special grab like piece on the arm) and 1-2 excavators to undertake the works. A dumper truck may be required depending on where the rock will be stockpiled on the beach. This plant will be transported to site on low-loading lorries. The majority of lorry movements to the site will be at the start and end of the works, with the odd movement during the works.
The grabs will then transfer the rocks from the stockpiles into the locality of the rock groynes, before placing them into their final position on top of the geotextile. Finally, navigation markers and public warning signs will be added to the new rock structures.
It is intended for this work to be undertaken in September and October 2006. Working times for the rock groynes will be tidally controlled, i.e. work will only be possible 2-3 hours either side of low tide, depending on whether the tide is more of a spring than a neap. It will therefore be necessary for the work to be conducted outside of normal working hours. It will be for the contractor when appointed to determine the preferred way of working, but it is likely that during spring tide periods, the contractor will wish to work during both low tides of a day – whenever they should occur (this may be during the night).
Unrestricted working hours would enable the project to be completed much more quickly, saving money, but also reducing the period that the 
section of the beach would have to be closed to the public.
During the works the section of beach and a section of lower promenade will be closed to public access. Public access will be maintained along the upper promenade (except during road deliveries) and to the parts of the beach unaffected by the works.
