Belfast based Graham Construction has recently been awarded a £2.3 million contract for the refurbishment of the Tayinloan Pier and Ferry Berth for Argyle and Bute Council.

The terminal which serves the island of Giha is located just off the A83, 20 miles north of Campbelltown on the Mull of Kintyre.

The works, which will be carried out while the terminal remains fully operational, will involve a combination of refurbishing and improving the exisiting facilities, whilst moving between 70,000 and 80,000 tonnes of sand from the beach south of the pier to an area to the north. This will relocate much of the sand which has gathered over the years against the breakwater and which is being carried around the end of the structure to be deposited at the bottom of the slipway. The recharging of the beach to the north will infill the area around the existing old pier.

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A bridge will be formed in the causeway leading to the pier and slipway, to re-establish the long shore drift of beach material which will be able to pass through the causeway and on up the coast rather than gathering against the breakwater. The existing slipway is being repaired and widened to accept wider vessels and, in particular, the proposed new hybrid ferries which are being introduced by Calmac on selected west coast routes. Finally the old pier to the north of the terminal will be removed to allow the movement of sand and sediment up the coastline in a northerly direction.

The 34 week project is due to be completed in June 2012 in time for the peak summer tourist season.

(CD)