The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) on Friday announced that its Mangroves Department has commenced works to enhance the foreshores with groyne structures in Region Two at Anna Regina and Region Four at La Bonne Intention and Beterverwagting.
In a statement, NAREI noted that groynes are placed perpendicular to the foreshore and act as a direct barrier to longshore drift, reducing wave energy before a wave reaches the shoreline. “This structure will protect young and existing mangroves, aid in accretion of the foreshore, prevent over topping which cause flooding in the community, while preserve and protect a unique ecosystem,” it explained.
NAREI said that a $31,547,000 contract was awarded to Ideal Engineering Services Inc to construct a 200m geotextile tube groyne along the foreshore of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. The contract was inked between the Institute and contractor in August. The works are scheduled to be completed next February and there is a five-month defects liability period.
The statement noted that according to the scope of works, the foundation of the geotubes shall be constructed by pumping sand along the foreshore 1m from ground surface at location designated for the proposed structure along with the fabrication and installation of bamboo rafter 21 feet wide and 700feet long. The bamboo rafter is to be used as part of the foundation of the second tube.
Additionally, four 50m geotextile Tubes and four 52m geotextile scour aprons are to be placed at the foreshore of Anna Regina to Henrietta to form two 50m and one 100m groynes. The orientation of the groyne will be 90 degrees to the Anna Regina foreshore followed by the filling of all tubes with sand and sealing of fill ports.
Meanwhile, Ideal Engineering Services Inc is also constructing two 120m rubble mound groynes in Region Four: one along the foreshore of La Bonne Intention and the other at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The two contracts, each valuing $32.1 million, were signed between the contractor and NAREI in August 2019. The contractor is expected to complete works in February 2020 and there is a six-month defects liability period.
According to the scope of works for the Region Four projects, the foundation of the rubble mound groynes shall be constructed by pumping sand along the foreshore 1m from ground surface at the location designated for the proposed structure along with the fabrication and installation of bamboo rafter 21 feet wide and 400feet long for each site. The bamboo rafter is to be used as part of the foundation of all groynes.
The orientation of the groynes shall be 90 degrees to the respective foreshores.
