New zebra crossing to be installed as part of sea defence works as concerns are addressed over shingle quality
A new zebra crossing is set to be installed in front of Blue Reef as work continues to create new sea defences in front of Southsea Common.
The barrier at the Blue Reef Aquarium end of the site has been extended by the Southsea Coastal Scheme team to allow for work to continue, including new kerbing for the two-way cycle lane, ducting and surfacing for the area in front of the aquarium.
A new zebra crossing is also being added in the area to help those crossing Clarence Esplanade, with the road now set to become one-way only when it reopens.
Meanwhile, on the beach near South Parade Pier the final pipes used to pump shingle onto the beach to increase its size are being removed, and a small area of beach has been fenced off as we demobilise the sinker line here. It is expected that the beach should be all clear in the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile the team has been answering questions about why shingle from the Solent is being used instead of sand to create the larger beach and sea defences - and why it looks a little different to the shingle which was there before.
A spokesperson explained: “Shingle helps defend us from storm surges as the shingle helps to take energy out of the waves whereas sand would just get washed away after a big storm, leaving Southsea vulnerable to major flood events. It would also cost ten times more to maintain compared to our shingle beach.
The material we have imported is a sandy gravel mix, taken from a local source. It’s currently highly mixed but will undergo some natural sorting as the waves and coastal processes shape the beach over time. This may mean that some areas are more sandy or gravelly than others.
“We expect that around every 10 years the beach will need maintenance which could include reshaping and adding more material.”