Arinagour Pier Conversion to Roll-on/Roll-off

John Watt - Lilley Site Agent.

In mid March 1991, Lilley Construction Ltd. were awarded a contract by Caledonian MacBrayne to upgrade the existing Arinagour Pier to take rollon/roll-off traffic.

The work commenced in mid May and included the extension of the existing pier by 26m (85ft.). construction of two lifting Dolphins which will support the new link span and construction of an approach route through the sea wall at the present car park.

The new structures are supported on 43 tubular steel piles some of which were installed by the Rosenstock Shock-Blasting technique which involved drilling and blasting to form a pocket of broken rock into which the pile could be hammered. The piles were driven using a diesel piling hammer which weighed 10 tonnes.

When complete, the new work will contain some 2.500 tons of concrete; about 9.500 bags of cement.

A new berthing face is also being constructed and contains 31 fender piles up to 18m (59ft.) in length.

The 30-strong workforce on the project was in the main composed of experienced, long serving "Lilley" men but was augmented with local labour. These included general labourers, joiners, steelfixers, crane operators, welders, drillers, drivers and cooks.

The linkspan, measuring 36m (118ft.) long and 7m (23ft.) wide will be lifted into position by floating crane barge in June and will be operational in time for the 1992 summer timetable.