Campbeltown's Old Quay officially re-opened on Monday, 3 November 2025, following the completion of a major 18-month refurbishment by contractor Dawson Wam.

The project focused on replacing the deteriorated 'Wall A' section, an 18th-century structure vital for the local economy, fishing industry (including the RNLI), and tourism.

The project was necessary due to accelerated corrosion in Wall A, originally built in 1941. Inspections had revealed significant material loss—up to 50% in places—with the sheet piles suffering holes and critical thinning.

The solution, deemed the most viable of six options evaluated, involved a full replacement of the 100-metre section and extensive dredging. Dawson Wam was appointed in March 2024 to design and construct the new sheet pile wall, a task crucial to extending the quay's utility for an estimated 120 years.

-- Advertisement --

Key construction details included:

Wall Replacement: The new Wall A, approximately 10 metres high, was installed one metre seaward of the original structure.

Structural Integrity: The new sheet piles were secured into the existing quay structure using tie rods and anchored to the seabed for enhanced resilience.

Dredging: The seabed was dredged to a depth of -5mCD, creating a valuable new deep-water berth that enhances the quay's usability for larger vessels.

Finishing: The area was backfilled, and the quay deck was extended using reinforced concrete copes, complete with new essential fixtures like bollards, fenders, and ladders.

Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, praised the engineering work: "It's played such an important role in the life of Campbeltown for more than 200 years and to know its lifespan has been extended for at least another 100 years is quite something... it will still stand at the heart of the town for generations to come."

The contractor also delivered several community benefits during the project, including support for local football pitches and school engagement initiatives.