A 1000 tonne crane was called in to complete the finishing touches for one of HBPW’s latest bridge designs.
Work on the £850,000 St Botolph’s bowstring footbridge across the River Witham at Boston in Lincolnshire, began many months ago, coming to fruition when a massive crane lifted the bridge into place over a weekend.
The lifting equipment was mobilised and assembled during Saturday with the central bridge section lifted into position by early evening. The two ramp sections arrived, under police escort, the following morning, and were lifted into position the same day, signalling the end of months of hard work by main contractor, Britcon Civil Engineering and lead designer HBPW, on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.
The 65m long bridge, weighing in at a cool 54 tonnes, was assembled along the river with the majority of the finishes, such as handrails, being installed prior to the lifting procedure.
The new structure is wider than the existing bridge and has an elliptical deck allowing people to admire the nearby Boston Stump without obstructing the crossing. Key features include a non-slip surface which has improved access for pedestrians, wheelchair users, dismounted cyclists, pushchairs and mobility scooters.
The bridge also colour matches the yellow lighting of the octagonal lanterns in the church tower, which is believed to have been used as a marker to guide travellers on land and sea.