The steelwork for the new Carrington Bridge in Worcester has now been installed.
Above: image by Alun Griffiths Contractors
The project is the first UK bridge to use high-strength S460W weathering steel. Using this stronger grade of steel enabled the Cowi design team to reduce the total material quantity by 15%, resulting in a more sustainable structure. The use of corrosion-resistant weathering steel means the steelwork does not require painting, a further environmental benefit, said the design team.
Cowi won the work on the project with Alun Griffiths Contractors as part of an early contractor involvement (ECI) initiative. The design work covered the three-span composite road bridge, as well as the geotechnical design of the road embankment, retaining walls and slope stabilisation measures. The steelwork was fabricated and installed by Cleveland Bridge.
The bridge has a total length of 205m and forms part of the Worcester Southern Link Road project, which will convert the A4440 from single to dual carriageway, relieving traffic congestion in the area.
The girders were delivered to site in segments of up to 48m.
They were then spliced into whole-span lengths of 80m before being lifted onto their supports by a 1,200-tonne mobile crane, one of the UK’s largest.
The final two crane lifts over the River Severn were achieved at a radius of 80m with the crane boom extended to its maximum length of 180m.
The 2.5km-long highway scheme includes another significant viaduct as well as a landmark footbridge, also designed by Cowi.
Andy Sloan, managing director and senior vice president of Cowi in the UK, said: “We are delighted to have completed the installation of the steelwork for the bridge in less than two weeks. The site has been challenging with regular flooding being an issue and steep slopes which have given us reduced access for construction works, but our team have tackled these problems head on, and we are thrilled with the outcome.”
Completion of the bridge is planned for spring 2021.
