Angus Council has published preliminary information about the civil engineering works needed to construct the proposed £11 million Brechin Flood Prevention Scheme.

The Brechin Scheme consists of direct river defences and a surface water drainage system.

The direct river defences include a mixture of grassed earthen embankments and reinforced concrete walls along the north bank of the River South Esk. The earthen embankments are up to 1,8 m high, totalling 700 m in length. The reinforced concrete walls will be up to 1,8 m high totalling 800 m in length. A concrete seepage barrier will be installed beneath the embankments and walls, approximately 2,5 m below existing ground levels.

The secondary drainage system includes replacing an existing urban culverted watercourse with a pressurised Ductile Iron DN900 culvert (with a single inlet and outlet), approximate length 350, and upgrading existing roads drainage within the carriageway with a DN450 Road Carrier drain, approximate length 700 m. A number of new road gulleys and kerb drains will be required.

Installation of No .3 submerged pump stations (maximum depth ~5 m below existing ground levels) and associated drainage to outfalls and control kiosks. A number of headwall structures will be constructed on the banks of the River South Esk.

Due to the nature of the proposed works, general roadworks and environmental enhancements are also proposed throughout the site and have been incorporated into the Scheme design. This includes raising a section of existing footway on the banks of the River South Esk by 0,6 m above existing ground levels.

A number of demolition works are also required, to allow construction of the walls and embankments. These works will include demolition of a number of small industrial / out-buildings within East Mill industrial estate.

The works will take place within the southern part of Brechin, adjacent to the River South Esk which is a Special Area of Conservation. The works are within an area prone to flooding and necessary flood protection measures will need to be in place during the construction phase of the works to ensure the site is protected during flood events.

Additional work will be required to existing drains and culverted watercourses which have the potential to impact the water environment and surrounding land use.

Scheduled date for start of award procedures for the contract is  4^th November, with work then scheduled to start on 15^th December and due for completion in March 2016.