Airies Windfarm, Dumfries & Galloway

THE CHALLENGE

Planning consent was obtained by 2020 Renewables Limited for a new 14 turbine windfarm set within a rural landscape in Dumfries & Galloway. Access to the site was particularly challenging as a result of the site being served by single track roads in a situation where all turbine components (including 50m long turbine blades) would need to be transported to site as a series of abnormal loads. There was also a need to ensure that the impact on local residents was minimised as far as possible throughout the construction process and a need to monitor wear and tear on the local road network.

SYSTRA’S ROLE

SYSTRA were instrumental in the design of the access route to site for abnormal loads and general construction traffic. We designed a scheme of localised widening and additional lay-bys over 5.2km of single track road as well as preparing an exemplar design for a new concrete arch bridge on the route. Section 56 approval was obtained for the works and they were successfully implemented on site to accommodate the abnormal loads for the windfarm. SYSTRA also prepared a detailed design to upgrade a 2.7km track into a new access road to serve the development. A “floating road” was designed upon the underlying peat layer and the design successfully accommodated all general construction traffic and abnormal loads. Construction is now complete and SYSTRA’s Construction Traffic Management Plan was successfully used to minimise traffic impacts on local residents while we carried out a series of condition surveys to maintain the access route to an appropriate standard.