Jones Bros crucial harbour restoration project under the spotlight 28th Jul 2025

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK’s work alleviating the risk of flooding and restoring key North Wales maritime hub Pwllheli Harbour has been recognised by leading industry publication Awesome Earthmovers .

The trade magazine visited the site, situated along the Llŷn Peninsula’s Tremadog Bay, to explore three interconnected schemes completed by the Ruthin-based firm.

Due to the harbour’s naturally shallow waters, the area is prone to sediment build-up from excess sand and silt deposited by tidal currents and strong winter storms which, if left unchecked, can pose a flood danger.

The issue is exacerbated by the presence of the Afon Erch and Afon Rhyd-hir rivers which push additional sediments and freshwater into the harbour’s entrance and navigation channels, impairing accessibility for vessels.

To ensure the success of the scheme, the Jones Bros team worked closely with Cyngor Gwynedd , Hafan Pwllheli , and Gimblet Rock Holiday Park to devise a comprehensive plan of action.

It was agreed the programme would take place during the lowest tidal period of the season, to allow for best site access, creating a tight six-week schedule.

The Ruthin-based firm also uploaded data from a bathymetric survey of the channel into relevant machines’ GPS systems to ensure excavation could be carried out to the correct profile.

The first phase of work was to tip and level nearly 25,000 tonnes of sand on Traeth Grugan to replenish its dunes.

This job was carried out using 11 large-capacity Volvo and Komatsu articulated dump trucks and once completed, cleared the main access route needed for the next phase.

Following this, the team got to work removing a stockpile of 20,000m ³ of storm-driven sand and gravel from a previous campaign at Ceg yr harbwr, Traeth, Pwllheli. The material was loaded and hauled to Bryncir Quarry for the production of concrete products.

As ever, Earthmovers focused in detail on the modern construction equipment used to carry out the works, Jones Bros works manager Karl Evans telling the publication: “It worked out very well for us, as the material kept moving during the low tide periods.

“It also meant that the excavators and dozers managing the material at both ends of the job were kept busy without stopping and starting too much.”

Once space had been cleared in the stockpile area located near Gimblet Rock, attentions were turned to dredging and de-silting the edge of the Afon Erch river; a task that permitted the removal of almost 30,000 tonnes of silt and sediment from the narrow channel that leads into Hafan Pwllheli.

Accessibility proved challenging due to the amount of large, heavy rocks on site, but Jones Bros utilised the Komatsu D71PX dozer to gently taper the material out, creating a wide enough platform for the excavator to sit on safely.

A Komatsu PC360LCi excavator was also used to remove compacted silt and place it into a Volvo A40G articulated dump truck, which transported it up the foreshore for drying and stockpiling.

Jones Bros contracts director Hefin Lloyd-Davies said: “While we rely heavily on the intelligent machines to assist our operations in delivering projects accurately and quickly, we still employ a huge number of surveyors, as their expertise is still required.

“Our graduates and experienced surveyors play a huge role in delivering our projects successfully, but the advent of machine control and it’s increasing ease of use and accuracy has allowed us to almost wipe out the need for anyone to be working around heavy equipment, making job sites far safer.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways , flood and marine defence , waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced nearly 40 per cent of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited more than 100 apprentices during the past three years.