The project involved extensive refurbishment to the north and southbound bridges including major deck, soffit & abutment repairs; ballast wall reconstruction; post-tensioned steel investigation (PTSI); joint refurbishment & bearing replacement.
Hydrodemolition – Wastewater Treatment
The innovative cantilever scaffolding & containment system allowed hydro demolition works to be carried out safely over the live carriageway beneath. Wastewater from this process was collected and treated on site, before discharging to local highways drainage system, removing the need for off-site disposal
Sustainability – Repair vs Replace
On most construction projects, concrete and steel are the two largest contributors to carbon emissions. By adopting a repair rather than replace strategy for both structures the amount of concrete and steel required for this project was dramatically reduced. Furthermore, the data gained from the refurbishment of both structures will be used by National Highways to undertake a more detailed study into the sustainability merits of repair vs replace, and will be used to inform the options for a number of identical projects to be undertaken on the strategic road network up to 2030.
Scaffolding
A detailed cost benefit analysis revealed that using traditional scaffolding in cantilever mode rather than ‘Fastbeam’ which was originally proposed would save £230k.
Water Supply
The team worked hard to secure a local water source, rather than bringing in by tanker which saved £70k and reduced the project’s carbon footprint.
Methodology
During the ECI phase, the team proved that temporary reinstatement work was not necessary saving 6 weeks on programme and £170k.
