1978 CIE authorised to build a second pier

In 1978 and 1979, 88,000 cubic metres of sand and 100,000 cubic metres of rock was removed by Holland Dredging Co. of Ireland, the dredger also pumped sand to the mainland to reclaim six acres. The new pier was built by Irishenco Ltd. of Dublin,the new pier was to be called the West pier. Very large blocks were used to build this pier and they were made on the mainland. About 1,600 blocks were used to build the pier,and weighing up to 25 tons. When the big blocks were made they were put on a large barge by a big crane,another crane was placed at the start of the pier and it started to place the blocks to form the start of the pier,this crane went along the top of the new pier as it was laying the blocks. The blocks had a specail shape to them and they interlocked with each other as they were placed by the big crane.The new pier was 15 metres wide and 180 metres long, a new floating ramp was provided on the eastern side, this ramp was to be called the no 2 ramp. There was another link-span built on the west side of pier,this was to be called the No 1 ramp.