| City council engineers began drilling into the ground in the Tay Road Bridge landfall area today to learn as much as possible about the underlying soil and rock before work begins on the £9.3 million first phase of the new waterfront.
Core samples will be taken out for laboratory analysis to fill any gaps in the already detailed knowledge of the ground that will be required to support new buildings and a new infrastructure.
They will also form part of a comprehensive feasibility study to provide the engineering solutions that will allow the type of development identified in a waterfront masterplan to progress.
Planning and transportation director Mike Galloway said, “This represents the very first stage. Before you start a project of this scale, you have to be very sure of the ground conditions from a civil engineering perspective.
“This isn’t just soil investigation: it’s a sign that this scheme is happening right now.”
The grand plan for the new waterfront includes:
* The extension of the city centre to the river’s edge;
* The creation of a new gridiron street pattern;
* Improved provision for walking, cycling and buses;
* The removal of some of the Tay Road Bridge ramps;
* The creation of a pair of east/west tree-lined boulevards;
* Provision of sites for a variety of mixed use developments;
* The formation of a major new civic space and re-opened dock;
* The provision of a new rail station and arrival square.
Such is the scale and cost of the masterplan that its development will proceed over a 30-year timescale and will involve retail, business and leisure elements.
Councillors Jill Shimi, leader of the administration, and Fiona Grant, planning and transportation convener, visited the borehole location beneath the east-bound ramp of the road bridge to witness the historic start.
Councillor Shimi said, “We want to reconnect the city with the waterfront and our plans were boosted by a £9.3 million funding package from the Scottish Executive to kick-start the process.
“Dundee has one of the most spectacular estuary settings in Europe and there is widespread support for our vision of making the most of our unique waterfront through various proposals over the next decade or so.”
Councillor Grant said “The current programme identifies the realignment of the West Marketgait to the north of the rail station as the first section of works to be carried out. This will also involve removing the pedestrian overbridge from Union Street to the rail station and replacing it with a new, surface-level crossing.” |
