A prestigious paving scheme at the centre of a wider environmental improvement project in the Scottish coastal gateway town of Oban has benefited from the extensive use of BS7533 compliant hard landscaping products from Parex.
The Oban Bay Harbour Project for Argyll and Bute Council incorporates high quality seating, footways, street furniture and energy-saving LED lighting to provide an improved experience for the townsfolk and visitors.
The project has also provided a pedestrian area where performances and events can be staged.
Work on the scheme was programmed over two phases and completed in sections to minimise impact and quickly return the improved areas to use in a series of “parcels”. The authority issued a regular flow of bulletins to keep the local community up to date with progress.
Hard landscaping work covering an approximate area of 6,000 square metres, was undertaken by contractor Land Engineering, of Glasgow, whose works extend along Oban's esplanade, from Station Square ferry terminal, along Queens Park Place and George Street, the A85 Trunk Road.
The main visual impact of the work is the paving along Queens Park Place and George Street which consists of Magma Granite and Italian Porphyry natural stone violet mix. Station Square, which is adjacent to the ferry terminal has been finished with alternate bands of silver grey and natural buff granite aggregate.
Parex materials were selected for their suitability for the work and for being compliant with BS7533. After excavation of the existing services and installation of new drainage, Parex Fine Bedding Concrete was placed to a depth of 30 mm to provide a firm base for the new paving elements, which were treated with a hand applied coating of Parex Bond Plus bonding mortar on the underside to provide a firm bond with the base.
Approximately 230 tonnes of Fine Bedding Concrete was supplied to an on-site silo which ensured efficient, consistent mixing and also allowed the contractor to create a clean environment by reducing dust and removing the need for storage and protection of bags of material.
Once laid, the paved area were then treated with high strength natural-coloured Granatech jointing mortar which was poured into the joints to provide a complete void-free fill of the gaps between the between the paved elements.
Heritage style LED sea wall lighting and festoon lighting along the esplanade completed the works.
With 200,000 people per month coming off the ferry, the main challenge in delivering the works was in managing the logistics and effective public interface to deliver the works safely and provide continued access to and around the town.
