Construction

The terminal site and its road and rail access lie completely within the Avonmouth Dock Estate.  Apart from capital dredging and disposal, there will be no off-site engineering works.

The main construction requirements are:

• 1200m of operational quay wall (using either concrete caissons or a piled structure) providing berths for deep-sea and feeder container vessels. To accommodate 16m draught vessels at all states of the tide. The high Severn tidal range requires a quay wall 37m high.
• reclamation of 55ha of inter-tidal and sub-tidal area for the container handling and storage area and HGV holding and loading area. The other 30ha of the total site is brownfield land previously used as an oil terminal. Material from capital dredging will be used in reclamation.
• a 600m breakwater to reduce the effect of tidal currents for the berths and container vessel manoeuvring area.  This reduces the size of the turning area and thus the required volume of dredging during the construction and operational phases.
• rail terminal and road system linking the new handling and storage area to existing port infrastructure.
• installation of container handling equipment, navigation aids and lighting, and provision of offices, workshops and warehouses.

Based on engineering feasibility, the preferred construction methods for the quay wall and breakwater is the use of caissons or a piled structure. Caissons would be built in the existing Avonmouth graving dock then towed out through the lock and placed in position. Precast concrete units will be produced on-site. Where feasible, materials and plant for the project will be delivered by sea or rail.