BEACH ENLARGMENT PROJECT

Is under way. A big dredger thing is coming up to the shore every so often and pumps sand onto the beach area through those pipes. Good day to start, spring tides and all that but I and others know what they are doing.

The project is supposed to increased the width of the beach by 50 metres all the way along, partly so that more tourists can sit on it and partly to try to keep the sea from battering the cliffs. It's due to be finished by 24th June. Each bit of the beach will progressively be treated and will be closed for the duration of work. Here's a picture. More later.

oh dear..when i first read the heading for this post i thought it said Breast Enlargement Project..

janet wrote: oh dear..when i first read the heading for this post i thought it said Breast Enlargement Project..

Yeah, like you would need it Janet

One of the purposes of the project is to try to prevent erosion of the cliffs. Any more cliff falls (remember that five  people were killed here last year) and the tourist industry will surely suffer. And if the erosion is not checked parts of Albufeira will start falling into the sea. I have already seen this year the effects of a large fall cat Carvoeiro and another near Lagos.

The project is costing €3.18 million, of which Albufeira is paying €2.2 million. Only a small part of the beach is affected at any one time. This section will take about a week more. So they say, we shall see. Overall, as I said, the project is due to finish on 24th June.

Anyway, I got a good view of things today so here are some pictures. You can plainly see the effect of the sand being grafted onto the beach. This is between the Sol e Mar and the pinnacle. You can also see why. It's not a very high tide and not particularly rough, but the sea is almost up to the top of the existing beach.



And it is undermining the cliffs further along



So, this dredger goes off out to sea a couple of miles, scoops up loads of sand, comes back inshore and anchors three hundred yards or so off the beach.



It then  hooks up to the end of a big pipe that was laid previously.You can see it at the bow. A pump starts up and a minute or two later out of the other end gushes a mixture of sand and water. It's all very clever. Once finished, off it goes again and the whole process is repeated.



That is your lesson in coastal engineering for today. I shall report back on progress over the next few weeks.

BTW in case you were wondering, the lift is still closed as the waves are crashing over the pathway at the bottom. It will stay closed until probably Easter if not later.

Blimey!!! That last picture is incredible, I had to look twice before I fully realised where it was

cheekygirl wrote:  Thanks for the info Tom. It makes sense now. Thought it was just a tourist thing to get more sunbeds on the beach.

 

Well obviously that's the other reason!
Little do they know that everyone seems to be happy sitting on a sunbed by a hotel swimming pool. Nasty rough stuff, that sea.

have we had anymore news on the repair of the pier ?
ps cheekygirl we like the beach at forte as little lad loves crabbing in the rocks to the left. we also have apartment near by just passed the elma .

kevjrobbo wrote: have we had anymore news on the repair of the pier ? ps cheekygirl we like the beach at forte as little lad loves crabbing in the rocks to the left. we also have apartment near by just passed the elma .

Very near us then, our apartment is opposite the Panacee restaurant. Might bump into you.