Contractor Farrans has installed the first major steel section of the Gull Wing bridge in Lowestoft, East Suffolk.
Its installation follows a week-long track possession and a complex engineering operation.
The North Approach Viaduct (NAV1) section arrived at the construction site on Lake Lothing on 1 March this year. This followed a 32-hour crossing on a barge from Victor Buyck Steel Construction in Ghent in Belgium.
Reinforced deck and parapets
Since then, Farrans has added a reinforced concrete deck and parapets to it. When the original steel section arrived it weighed 380 tonnes. Following the additions, it now weighs close to 1,450 tonnes.
The operation to move the section into place began at midnight on Friday evening (21 October) and concluded on Monday (24 October) at 5am when the line was returned to Network Rail.
Farrans moved NAV1 using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). Sixteen individual axles in two rows of two manoeuvred the section into its final position.
‘Complex process’
Neil Rogers, project director at Gull Wing Bridge for Farrans Construction, said: “This complex process has involved a large team of civil engineers and railway specialists, including assistance from Network Rail and facilitation support from Associated British Ports.
“Approximately 120 operatives were on site working in shifts over the 52-hour railway possession to ensure the installation of NAV1.
“As soon as this section of steel arrived on site in March we have been busy constructing the reinforced concrete deck, installing the parapets and getting the abutment and pier support structures ready. Over recent weeks we have been preparing the track protection measures necessary to allow trafficking the rail lines with the extremely heavy load.
“Although planning and implementing this challenging element of the scheme has been the focus of our attention, recently we have also been progressing the work associated with the other seven spans which cross Lake Lothing. This includes the main bascule lifting section of the bridge which will be installed next year.”
Councillor Matthew Hicks, leader of client Suffolk County Council, said: “This is a significant and exciting milestone in the building of the Gull Wing bridge.
“People can now start seeing the bridge really begin to take shape, a structure which once finished will have a huge and positive impact on the town of Lowestoft and the wider area.”
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So, the steel section of the bridge was undertaken by a Belgian contractor. Another example of uncompetitive UK contractors? No mention in your report as to how this part of the contract was awarded.