Work is underway on a new £100 million flood defence scheme in Lincolnshire.

A joint venture between Bam Nuttall and Mott MacDonald (BMMJV) has started building the Boston Barrier project, which will protect 14,000 homes and businesses from tidal flooding.

More than 5,000 m3 of silt is being dredged from the Boston Haven to make way for construction, while over 2,000 tonnes of steel sheeting will be installed over the coming months to strengthen the banks of the River Witham in preparation for the barrier.

The scheme will feature a moveable gate across the river together with a new control building to operate the barrier, new flood defence walls on both banks and a replacement gate across the entrance to the existing Port of Boston wet dock.

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The barrier's 25-metre wide hydraulic-powered gate will lay flat on the riverbed when not in use. It will be raised to close off the River Witham when flooding is expected, preventing high tides on the North Sea from raising river levels in the town.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.

Speaking after marking the start of works, Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey said: "This Government investment will make sure Boston is one of the best protected towns on the east coast and I am proud to be putting the first spade in the ground on this project.

"The Boston Barrier is part of our plan to invest £229 million over the next four years to make sure the risk of flooding to 49,000 homes and businesses in Lincolnshire is significantly reduced."

Toby Willison, Executive Director of Operations at the Environment Agency, said: "This state-of-the-art defence will help protect Boston's communities and businesses from the kind of flooding the town experienced in December 2013."

(LM/MH)