Work to create a new freight area at the Elizabeth Harbour – the first stage of a 40-year project to transform the island’s principal port – is due to begin next autumn.
Ports of Jersey said it was currently fulfilling the more than 40 planning obligations that were attached to its approved application, which was passed last November.
The initial phase of the work will involve dredging the harbour, reclaiming land in front of the current ‘splash beach’ next to the Albert Pier, building a large decking area suspended on pillars, and creating a new ‘restricted area’ for freight on the concrete decking.
Ports say this will allow all freight operations to be centralised because currently, load-on, load off activity, which involves craning goods on and off ships, takes place on the New North Quay.
Having it all in one place will drastically reduce lorry movements around the Harbour and also free up space on the New North Quay, which could potentially make way for homes, restaurants and attractions.
Harbourmaster Captain Bill Sadler said that Ports now had a project consortium, which included construction firm VolkerFitzpatrick, civil engineers Geomarine, dredging specialists Boskalis, designers Arup, and engineers Hartigan.
“What this first phase does is create the space and resilience to enable the longer term projects, which include building a new freight distribution centre and passenger terminal,” he said.
“The first phase will also relieve pressure on the current freight restricted area, which is at overcapacity when sailings are affected by bad weather or at busy times of the year, such as the potato export season.”
The initial stage that islanders will see from next autumn will last two to three years and will involve the removal of one of the Elizabeth Harbour’s two roll-on, roll-off ramps.
However, the missing eastern ramp will be replaced next year for the summer season, then taken away again.
This stage also involves dredging a berth ‘pocket’ alongside the new suspended deck, with the spoil either used in the nearby reclamation or barged to a disposal area five miles south of St Helier.
There is no definite timeline for when future parts of the approved plan, including the new passenger terminal and public spaces south of the Elizabeth Marina, will commence.
This will be dependent on the demands of other projects, including the wider Harbour ‘masterplan’ and plans to develop the Waterfront.
Ports last month announced that it was seeking a development partner to take on the La Folie Inn site, which has been closed since 2004, to possibly build a 150-bedroom hotel there.
Recently, Ports spent £0.5m to upgrade the existing Elizabeth Terminal, which opened in 1989, to create a departure lounge for passengers after they have cleared security.
The multi-million-pound redevelopment of the Elizabeth Harbour will be funded by Ports, a commercial company which is 100% owned by the public.
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