British Dumpers on french Project
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flood-control and power project is in progress on the 155-mile long Durance river at Serre Poncon Gorge, France. Part of the programme is devoted to the construction of a dam, and when this is completed the reservoir formed will store water from a catchment area of nearly 1,400 sq. miles.
Prosperity Will be brought to the local inhabitants through the improvement of agricultural conditions and an increase in the electrical supply. The c12
A COMBINED I-1 hydro-electric
expected output ot the power station is 1,100m. kW. per year.
Powered by Leyland 0/600 oil engines, Aveling-Barford type SL 7A-cu.-yd. twoway shuttle dumpers are being used to perform specialized work which cannot be readily undertaken by the earthmoving plant on the site.
To date, the shuttle dumpers have been employed in the disposal of dirt and rock from the tunnel excavations where their two-way steering enables them to work to and from the loading shovels inside the tunnel without drivers being subjected to the strain of lengthy periods of reversing in artificial light.
Dirt excavated from the various tunnel workings is carried by the dumpers some 1,000 yd. upstream and dumped on the valley floor, where it will eventually he covered by the reservoir. Spoil from cleaning up the sides of the gorge on the dam line is dumped straight into the _ river some 400 yd. downstream.
This Leyland-powered Aveling-Bariord shuttle dumper, is one of several operating at Serre POI1C0i2 Gorge, France. It is seen at the entrance to one of the diversion The dumpers also operate where loading and tipping areas are restricted and will later be used to carry fill for the dam itself, which will rise 400 ft. to a crest 2,000 ft. long.
Although little has been dbne towards the actual building of the dam, preparatory work has been in progress since early 1955.
This has included laying 25 miles of new roads to replace those which will eventually be submerged and the relocation of several villages and hamlets where some 1,200 people had their homes. tunnels.