Project record

Bridgwater Tidal Barrier and downstream flood defences

Participation
Not assessed
Project facts checked

Permanent reinforced-concrete foundations advancing; revised superstructure scheduled from early 2027

Project sources

Bridgwater combines a River Parrett tidal barrier with downstream flood defences. Permanent foundations are progressing while the revised design lowers the towers and relocates the gate drives to their bases.

Environment Agency January 2026 concept rendering of Bridgwater Tidal Barrier, showing two lift gates between three lower towers

Concept rendering: Environment Agency, Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0. Published 15 January 2026; proposed design. Full source frame retained.

Location

United Kingdom / Europe

Segment

Tidal surge barrier and downstream flood defences

Phase

Construction / Confirmed

Last checked

5 November 2026

Coverage

Related sectors

Tidal surge barrier and downstream flood defences is the primary work classification. Related sectors connect this record to adjacent marine delivery and market coverage.

Subject index

Related subjects

These subject pages bring together related projects, technical articles, reports, and evidence methods.

Project anatomy

Contract scope and delivery roles

Client / authority
Environment Agency, in partnership with Somerset Council
Delivery parties
Kier - Construction Continuation Contract announced 22 June 2026
Contract route
Kier announced a GBP 101 million Construction Continuation Contract on 22 June 2026, including completion of the barrier substructure. The council also identifies earlier enabling and downstream-defence packages.
Execution window
Kier records the jack-up leaving in April 2026 after the temporary-works phase. The council reports permanent foundations and central-pier reinforcement in its October 2026 account, with superstructure construction scheduled from early 2027.
Works package
Twin vertical-lift tidal gates on the River Parrett, three supporting towers, an operational site, downstream embankments at Chilton Trinity, Pawlett and Combwich, and fish and eel passage improvements.
Marine interfaces
A bypass channel carries the River Parrett around the foundation work area. The in-channel cofferdam provides a dewatered working space; reinforced-concrete structures must receive the revised gate equipment and its service connections.
Commercial evidence boundary
The construction-continuation award covers work including the substructure. Drive supports, embedded parts and equipment-access clearances need an agreed interface before affected concrete is cast; later detail changes can reopen reinforcement, access and pour sequencing.

Evidence gap

What remains unverified

Outstanding evidence

  • Issued mechanical reactions, embedded-part locations and tolerances for affected permanent-concrete pours
  • Approved equipment-removal, lifting and maintenance access arrangements at the tower bases
  • Updated superstructure programme and the resulting civil-to-mechanical installation sequence

Related records 1

Reporting status

Project phase
Construction
Evidence confidence
Confirmed
Last checked
5 November 2026
Cited sources
5

Sources and related records

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Source collections

Project sources 5