Second Phase of Huge Watercourse Underway with Local Firm at the Helm

The next phase of a huge watercourse to serve a major Teesworks site and create a home for aquatic life is under way.

The first phase of the 1.9km South Bank Watercourse is now complete – and now ZTL Contracting, part of the Applebridge Family, is getting to work on the second phase of work with machinery on site.

The system will initially help manage the large volumes of water draining from the 90-acre SeAH Wind Ltd turbine monopile manufacturing facility.

An intertidal salt marsh habitat will become part of the project in the third phase of the scheme.

It comes after the Middlesbrough-headquartered firm won its first direct contract with the South Tees Development Corporation – with Applebridge Construction landing a three-year reactive maintenance contract on the UK’s largest industrial zone and at the heart of the Teesside Freeport.

ZTL Contracting, which is based in Middlesbrough and Wakefield, previously won work on the Teesworks site –  creating a huge 150,000-tonne platform for the South Bank Quay project for GRAHAM.

Martin Corney, CEO of Teesworks, said: “As we have for many months, we’re really seeing progress on projects taking shape across the Teesworks site – with the South Bank Quay build nearing completion, and remediation of land continuing at pace

“It’s always a great pleasure for us to have local contractors working at Teesworks – and ZTL and the Applebridge Family are no exception. This watercourse is important for keeping water moving through to the Tees, and I’m pleased to see Teesside firms taking on the job.”

The work to realign Holme Beck and Knitting Wife Beck is creating around 3.5km of new surface water channels.

The final phase of the project will see a new inter-tidal area designed to gather tidal sediment which, over time, will create around two acres of salt marsh habitat.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “With the help of our Joint Venture Partners, we’re bringing game changing projects to Teesworks which require mammoth infrastructure so the landscape can cope.

“This is smart engineering which will ensure wildlife can flourish and migrate, while the ground copes at the Western end of Teesworks.

“But it makes it even better that we have a top local firm at the helm keeping jobs close to home.”

Wayne Morris, Commercial Director at ZTL Contracting, said: “Being part of this monumental project at Teesworks is a source of immense pride for ZTL Contracting and the Applebridge Family. We are committed to contributing our local expertise in creating a sustainable infrastructure that not only benefits the Teesworks site but also supports the growth of the local community.

“It’s an honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of the installation of this vital watercourse, ensuring the efficient water management of the wider Teesworks scheme for years to come.”