From Crossrail to Wallasea Island

One of the exciting things happening in our district is the creation of the new RSPB nature reserve on Wallasea Island.

The Port of London Authority website has an item on how excavated material from the Crossrail Project in London will be moved by ship to help create the new landscape there:

This innovative project aims to combat threats from climate change and coastal flooding by recreating a wetland landscape. It will also help to compensate for the loss of similar tidal habitats elsewhere in England due to rising sea levels. Crossrail will provide around 4.5 million tonnes of excavated material to RSPB generated from the construction of tunnels, shafts and stations.
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Andy Mitchell, Crossrail Programme Director said: ?We are delighted to be working in partnership with RSPB to create a major new nature reserve that can be enjoyed for generations to come. At least two-thirds of all Crossrail excavated material will be used to create the wetland at Wallasea Island. With the award of the contract to transport excavated material, Crossrail has now awarded the last remaining major contract that will allow tunnelling to commence in spring 2012.?
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Crossrail tunnelling will commence at Royal Oak in March with the first ships containing the excavated material arriving at Wallasea Island during summer 2012. The contractor will be responsible for shipping excavated material from Instone Wharf and Barking Riverside in east London and Northfleet, Kent to Wallasea Island.
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Up to five ships a day will transport excavated material down the River Thames to Southend?on-Sea. They will then travel north passing Foulness Island before turning west into the River Crouch to reach Wallasea Island……

You can find out more on the RSPB website here.