Drainage expertise is required for Fibre Optic technology

Lanes for Drains has proved that the innovative application of drainage expertise and technology means it need not be a bridge too far when it comes to installing 21^st Century communications systems.

Engineers from the company, the UK’s largest independent drainage specialists, laid fibre optic cables underneath a 60 metre long bridge.

QinetiQ, the company that operates and manages the Test and Evaluation range a MOD Shoeburyness in Essex, needed the cables to be laid across Havengore Bridge to Foulness Island – both of which fall within the range boundary.

The project manager appointed by QinetiQ, Roger Carter, of WYG Management Services, said: “It was not a straightforward task by any means, but Lanes for Drains was confident it could be done.

“A 150mm diameter duct was already in place but had become compromised by sea water and estuary mud. Lanes for Drains came up with a clever solution that involved pulling another, narrower duct through it, in which the cables could be laid.

“They did a very professional job in overcoming a difficult challenge. There were a lot of unknowns throughout the project but they were worked through methodically to achieve an excellent outcome.”

Engineers from Lanes for Drains’ London depot at Rainham in Essex first visited the site to carry out an initial assessment in February 2012.

Paul Brooker, Reline Engineer for Lanes for Drains at Rainham, said: “The original duct had been in place and covered in estuary mud since Havengore Bridge opened in 1988.

“After considering the problem in some depth, we put forward a proposal to clean it and inspect it, then winch through a narrower length of duct which was light and flexible yet impervious to sea water, so robust enough to protect the fibre optic cable.

“We sourced the ducting, which had to be 65 metres long, through our network of suppliers. We also developed a site specific method statement and risk assessment, which included working in some difficult confined spaces, both of which were approved by WYG and QinetiQ.

“The work, itself, was done at the end of May 2012 over two days. We used a powerful Kaiser Whale jet vac to clean out the original ducting then carried out a full CCTV survey using one of our HD quality robotic video cameras.

“Once we were sure the duct was clear, we pulled through the new ducting, using a steel cable which we left in place to allow the cabling contractors to then winch through the fibre optic cable.

“It was not your usual drainage project, but we’re used to that at Lanes for Drains. Because we have such a large amount of experience, such well trained operators and excellent equipment, we’re more capable when it comes to innovative solutions to tricky problems like this.”

Foulness Island, the UK’s fourth largest island, has been a military research site since 1858. It is also home to some 200 residents and its marshes and tidal mudflats make it an important wildlife area, especially as a breeding ground for birds, and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.