Hollow Structure Keeps 72-Hour Blockade On Track

As HBPW’s strategic supply partners were heralding the success of an arch demolition and metallic deck installation in Rutland Water, little did they know that the slick 72-hour operation was aided massively by some smart ‘bath’ engineering!

Working alongside AmcoGiffen, Partner Jon Livesey’s team, were asked to provide deck reconstruction designs after the existing twin track masonry arch underbridge at Manton Road on the A6003 – part of Network Rail’s GSM2 line which carries large amounts of freight traffic – showed signs of cracking.

“There were a number of other defects as well,” said Jon, “and assessments indicated that the ageing bridge was under strength and in need of replacement.”

At the outset all team members were aware that they would eventually have just 72 hours in which to complete the work so smart engineering design was essential from day one.

“Because it was an arch bridge previously, the abutments were much lower so, in changing to a flat metallic deck, we had to have much deeper pre-cast concrete cill units.

“However, to make transportation of the units and installation of the deck as a whole easier, we split the cill units into two elements. The lower cill resembles a hollow bathtub and the upper cill is a conventional impost unit, the two being connected by stainless steel bars.  After installation by a Self-Propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT) the lower cills were then filled with cement grout.

“Not only did this make transportation from the pre-cast yard to the East Midlands location so much easier, but it also took something like 20 tonnes of weight out of the job making manoeuvrability at site more straightforward.”

The new deck was successfully moved into place within a tight 72-hour blockade whilst Jon Livesey remained at the end of a phone as site teams laboured through the day and night.

“Everyone plans for success, however, to coin that age old saying of ‘pre planning prevents poor performance’, this was a perfect example of where some incisive thought by the HBPW team made the job of our strategic partners on the day so much easier. This was a significant demolition and installation but everyone did a magnificent job.”