Leiths Newsletter Issue 22 - Magazine - Page 9
Leiths News : CIVIL ENGINEERING AND SURFACING DIVISION
page 8
Clearing the Way for Elgin’s future: Lawrie
Demolition takes on Iconic South Street Demolition
WE’RE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT LAWRIE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE DEMOLITION CONTRACT FOR A
SIGNIFICANT PROJECT IN ELGIN, BY ROBERTSON CONSTRUCTION NORTHERN. THE WORKS INCLUDE
THE CAREFUL REMOVAL OF FIVE BUILDINGS - AMONG THEM, THE MUCH-LOVED FORMER JUNNERS
TOY SHOP AND THE LEGENDARY JAILHOUSE NIGHTCLUB.
This job has required precision, collaboration, and plenty of
planning. Lawrie worked closely with Robertson to hit critical
project milestones, including the strategic removal of roof
sections to facilitate the design and installation of intricate
temporary works supporting a historic archway that’s set to
remain. We also ensured that site investigations could begin
on schedule and teamed up with local archaeologists and
students eager to uncover what lies beneath the floor slabs
and foundations.
Maintaining public access whilst we dismantled the 2 and 3
story buildings along the busy South Street added an extra
layer of complexity. The team began with a soft strip-out of all
internal materials, carefully sorting waste for responsible
off-site disposal. Unsurprisingly for buildings of this age,
asbestos was identi昀椀ed during the process. Lawrie swiftly
co-ordinated with Robertson to ensure its safe and ef昀椀cient
removal without delaying the programme.
Following this, mechanical demolition got underway. Using a fleet
of excavators, our operatives dismantled the buildings to slab
level, again separating materials for recycling. Around 3,000
tonnes of brick, block, and sandstone were transported to Leiths’
Bluehill Quarry, where they’ll be crushed and repurposed as
recycled construction material.
Next up was the floor slab and foundation removal, carried out
under the watchful eyes of archaeologists. If anything historically
signi昀椀cant is found, Lawrie will support with meticulous
excavation.
In other exciting news – this project marked the debut of our
brand-new 39-tonne SANY 390 SY390H tracked excavator. This
is the 昀椀rst time Lawrie has invested in this model, and it’s already
proving to be a powerful addition to our fleet.
New 39-tonne SANY 390 SY390H Tracked Excavator
MGL’s Current Project Update
As part of SSEN’s Argyll Reinforcement Project, MGL have been awarded the earthworks platform for the An Suidhe North GIS Substation, and
the Workers Camp at Lochgilphead, by Balfour Beatty. MGL started the main works in March, and with a programme duration of 40 weeks,
should be complete by the end of this year.
The construction of the substation platform requires the reopening of the
redundant Forestry Land Scotland Auchindrain Borrow Pit (BP), which is
located within 3km of the new substation location. The BP works involve
drilling and blasting, and processing of circa 175,000t of crusher run
materials.
The earthworks for the substation platform, include the removal of peat
overburden (circa 20,000m3), which have to be deposited within
constructed peat containment cells. The site has an element of cut to 昀椀ll,
including rock excavation and removal, prior to the placing of the
aggregates from the BP. In addition, the earthworks scope includes
drainage and attenuation, the construction of an access road, a
maintenance track, and the supply of aggregates for a reinforced soil wall.
An Suidhe Borrow Pit
MGL are also undertaking earthwork contracts with Global Infrastructure
on the Keith 132kV Substation upgrade and Compass Building and
Construction Services at Campbells Farm Phase 6 in Broadford, Skye.
