Branch
Report:
22nd May 2007
SITE VISIT
The final Technical
Meeting was a site visit CEMEX Taffs Well Quarry on the 22nd
May 2007, when
the Branch was invited to inspect the construction of the new Quarry
Access Tunnel which is nearing completion.
Members of the Branch
were welcomed by Dave Goodman, CEMEX Operations Manager, and he explained
the reasons that the quarry was being redeveloped. Tim Hazell, Quarry
Manager gave an introduction to the site and its recent history, and
explained the planning consent for the new development.
Early in 2006 work
started on the 200metre, two lane width tunnel in the south east corner of
the quarry designed to take all road traffic from a minor road which runs
alongside the quarry and through the nearby village.
The tunnel, due for
completion in 2008 will be 10.2metres wide and 7.5metres high. The total
cost will be £3.75m. Besides changing the access the new tunnel means that
30 million tonnes of limestone reserve can now be quarried. Also the
existing plant which is visible from Cardiff will be dismantled and new
processing plant constructed on the quarry floor.
Robin Daniel, Director
of South Western Mining and Tunnelling gave an introduction to the company
and the history of the company’s involvement in the project. Bob Gunn,
Senior Partner, Gunn Engineering & Environmental Partnership, detailed the
design and construction of the tunnel.
Branch members were
then taken on a conducted tour of the site and walked through the tunnel
to view the construction of the access road.
