The £100 million Boston Barrier Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme has reached a landmark milestone with the arrival of a key piece of infrastructure.

A 300-tonne tidal flood gate arrived at the Lincolnshire site from the Netherlands, with contractors, BMMJV (a joint venture made up of BAM Nuttall and Mott McDonald), driving the 29m wide steel structure into place.

Moving the structure into place took place across three days. Steel sheet piles in the construction area were cut down in preparation for the barrier gate to be driven off the barge and over a temporary installation bridge by remotely controlled vehicles.

Steve Lowder, Project Manager, BMMJV said: "The delivery of the barrier gate is the culmination of hard work and collaboration by BMMJV its Client, and all the suppliers working on the project. The arrival of the barrier is a major milestone for the project. We've been working around the clock to get to this point and look forward to successfully completing the next steps of the scheme downstream. The team has achieved an exemplary safety record, and are proud to protect and improve the environment for people living and working in the local community."

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This Environment Agency scheme is a key part of the Boston Combined Strategy which will better protect the surrounding area from tidal flooding well into the next century. The barrier gate delivery marks an important milestone in the project and once fully commissioned, will better protect 14,000 homes from tidal flooding.

The barrier will now be connected to the hydraulic rams and control systems before undergoing essential safety and commissioning tests. The current navigation channel at the side of the construction works will then need to be closed for the barrier to be effective. The barrier commissioning will commence immediately and infill of the bypass channel is to commence in the New Year, and it is anticipated that the barrier will be ready for full operation by summer 2020.

Once the barrier is fully operational, Boston town centre would be protected against a tidal surge similar to what was experienced in December 2013, when almost 800 properties and business flooded across 55 streets.

(CM/JG)