Project
Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme Phase 2
Civil Engineering
River & Coastal
Scotland
Client
The City of Edinburgh Council
Value
£15,000,000
Duration
104 weeks
D&B Partner
Mott Macdonald
Protecting hundreds of properties in Water of Leith from future flooding.
The area had severely flooded several times causing substantial damage, particularly in the area around Murrayfield and the Scottish International Rugby Stadium.
The flood protection scheme provides flood defences for more than 400 homes and several commercial properties.
The project included the design and construction of flood defences over a distance of 1.2km along the Water of Leith at Murrayfield to provide a one in 200-year standard of protection.
Works also included top-of-bank, reinforced concrete piled retaining walls which incorporate embedded steel sheet pile foundations that further reduce flood risk by controlling seepage during long-duration storm events.
State-of-the-art
flood defences
As well as enhancement of the river flow regime through the demolition of four bridges across the river, and their replacement with two new road bridges and the provision of an overflow channel to provide additional storage capacity.
The scheme also aimed to help improve the quality of life for residents affected by flooding by providing enhanced access to the riverside walkway, disability access and improvements to the environmental and amenity aspects of the area.
Phase 2 of the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme was successfully delivered below budget and five months ahead of schedule.
2.3
km of flood defences
1.7
km of reinforced concrete walls
600
m of flood defence embankments
7
flood defence gates
