The Belmont Walkway Restoration was Action Bequia's lead project for 2012 and attracted strong support from close to one hundred individuals, couples and organisations.
For years, this walkway linked restaurants, boutiques, dive shops and beach bars along the waterfront in Bequia but substantial storm damage left it dangerous and unsightly. What was loved for the elegant way it defined the relationship between land and sea had become, in certain sections, a dangerous eyesore and disheartening to those who care about the island.
Innovative construction techniques and a creative design have resulted in a walkway which not only looks better than ever but one which is resilient to attacks from the sea. The lighting has improved night time safety, while the electricity powering this lighting is provided by nature (it is solar).
Overall, a true 21st Century solution.
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In front of Mac's Pizza, January 2012.
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Walkway at Northern end, January 2012.
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The Belmont Walkway Team.
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Belmont Walkway, April 2012.
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The Belmont Walkway after the Resurfacing in 2023.
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The rest of this page shows more of the work done on restoring the Belmont Walkway. The story begins at the bottom of the page and works upwards.
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Work starts!
The plans for the project. Please click on the image to expand.
Using a Plan from architect Mike Connell with inputs from Neil Sanders, both Bequia residents, the restoration of the Walkway was carried out as follows:
a) To secure the severely damaged sections, a methodology of dry-mix concrete sacks, stones and a coarse concrete slurry was used for filling the voids between and under the mass of broken concrete to form a solid base. Dry-mix concrete sacks were also used to secure the waterside face.
b) A reinforced broom-finished slab was cast along the restored area 12 to 18 higher than the original level.
c) A substantial boulder breakwater was then placed waterside to reduce the energy of the wave action before reaching the walkway. Replacing and augmenting these boulders on a regular basis is planned as part of the Walkway Maintenance Programme
Construction was done over a period of 3 to 4 months, starting late January 2012.
Whilst there are no certainties in an age of changing sea levels and unpredictable storm activity, a sea defense wall of this robust construction should prevent the undermining of the Walkway from the exposed side by medium to large surges.
Lighting
Low powered solar lights have been installed on posts along the restored section of the walkway. These are on a 12-volt system powered by a solar panel. The lights are triggered when the output from the solar panel drops below a certain level - so they always come on when needed.
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