Case study 1.2.

11

Thorngumbald, East Yorkshire - Concrete block & rock armour protection revetments.

Site: Client: Consultant: Contractor: Product: Quantity: Product functions:

Thorngumbald, Humber Estuary Environment Agency Binnie Black Veatch/Arup Edmund Nuttall GEOfabrics HPS6 2 21600m Filtration and separation

The existing rock armour defences along the Cherry Cobb embankment on the north bank of the Humber estuary to the east of Hull were constructed over 30 years ago and required updating and repair. The rock armour was originally placed there to protect two lighthouses, built upon the embankment to assist shipping in the estuary. While upgrading the defences it was decided to exercise a managed retreat to allow the low lying agricultural land adjacent to the river to flood during high tide to create a habitat for wild birds.
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Case study 1.2.11

The works consisted of building over 2km of new embankments further inland and then to breach the existing embankment to allow tidal water for flow in and out. The old embankments were to be kept in place not only to provide shelter but also due to the existence of the two lighthouses built on Cherry Cobb Sand Bank. The first phase of the works involved the protection of a high-pressure gas main crossing the Humber Estuary north to south and running under the area to be flooded at shallow depth. Concrete mattresses were placed over the top of the trace of the gas line to prevent scour, GEOfabrics HPS6 was used as a filter separator under the mattresses.

The second phase was the construction of new embankments and refurbishment of the existing ones. While it was decided that a concrete revetment would be suitable for the leeward side of the embankments these were not considered suitable for the open side, which could be subjected to wave action from the estuary, and hence it was decided to upgrade the existing rock armour. GEOfabrics HPS6 was durable enough to use for primary armour of 100kg 1000kg placed directly on top without requiring a secondary layer. This was an important consideration as environmental restrictions prevented heavy plants from operating on the foreshore and hence armour could only be placed from the side of the revetment requiring a simple design to be adopted.

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