Existing concrete defences, with cracking
visible In association with Caribbean Engineering and
Management Consultants Limited Mott MacDonald was appointed by the
Government of Guyana to carry out a review of the country’s current
sea defences and pin-point areas in need of newly constructed walls
or maintenance of existing defences.
The works are being carried as part of the Guyana Sea Defences
Rehabilitation Programme funded by the Inter American Development
Bank (IADB).
On average, the Guyana coastline which covers 430km lies 0.5m to
1.0m below sea level. It is protected by a system of sea defences
amounting to 340km in length.
There have been several instances of breaches in the sea defences
in recent years leading to flooding and increased salinity of the
coastal areas. Funds have been made available by various donor
agencies including the IDAB to undertake remedial works.
Superficial Deposit Distribution across the coast
of Guyana and the surrounding areaA geotechnical study
was implemented in order to assess the suitability of the
lithologies found at the coast to loading by coastal defence
structures. A review of the coastal geology, geomorphology and
marine conditions was carried out and the poor founding conditions
associated with the marine clays were evident. Previous ground
investigations were reviewed in order to discover the variability
of ground conditions and assess vulnerability to failure under
loading. This information was used to produce a number of concept
designs for coastal revetments, while working to protect the
hinterland from coastal erosion and inundation. The concept design
process will enable the construction of sustainable, affordable and
robust defences on the coastline of Guyana.
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