BRIDGE STREET NEWPORT

PROJECTBridge Street, Newport

CLIENTNetwork Rail

MAIN CONTRACTORABC Electrification clevelandbridge.com

Network Rail intends to electrify the line by installing 25kV AC Electrified Overhead Line Equipment (OLE). The scheme involves the installation of OLE through Wales, along the South Wales and Bristol Direct Line (SWB); Bristol and South Wales Union Line (BSW) and South Wales Mainline 2 (SWM2). As part of the scheme, Bridge Street has been designated as a bridge reconstruction to accommodate the increased height of the OLE.

Network Rail is undertaking the Great Western Route Modernisation (GWRM) electrification project. The Great Western Main Line is one of the country’s most important arterial routes, linking London and the south-east to Bristol, Wales and the west.

The 228-tonne, 50m skewed, weathering grade steel road bridge crosses the Great Western Main Line in Newport.

Requirement

Solution

CBUK scope of work was to plan and supervise heavy lift removal of the existing structure, which involved the fitting of steelwork to strengthen it so that it could be lifted out, whilst at the same time reducing the weight by removing a selection of sections. Due to the nature and location of this work it was almost entirely carried out during rail possessions. The existing structure was lifted out using a 600te crawler crane which, due to its size, had to be assembled on site over a week. The operation to remove the bridge was successfully carried out under a rules of the route possession of the line in just 6 hours.

To meet a short, six-hour deadline for the removal, CBUK fitted additional steelwork to the old bridge to strengthen the structure before it was lifted by a 600 tonne-capacity crawler crane, which enabled it to be removed in a single piece. The old bridge was then dismantled in the temporary works area for recycling.

Installation of the new bridge, which took place during a weekend closure of the railway line, also utilised the crawler crane and was successfully completed within three hours of receiving confirmation of the line closure. This provided sufficient time for follow on activities including installation of 90 pre-cast concrete units before the line was reopened.

CBUK scope also included the planning, detailing, supply, fabrication, site assembly and heavy lift installation of the replacement structure, and installation of the precast concrete deck units. The 228-tonne, 50m skewed, weathering grade steel road bridge was required to accommodate the increased height required for new OLE systems. This geometrically challenging structure was fabricated at CBUK’s facility in Darlington, and following a complete trial assembly, the steelwork was loaded onto trailers and transported 280 miles by road, to Newport, South Wales where it was assembled prior to installation in a trackside temporary works compound at Godfrey Road, Newport.

Project Scope

Challenges

“ Congratulations to the team for an excellent performance and lots of very hard work over the past few months ensuring a very challenging structure was ready for the lift.” Rob Fancourt, Head of Civils ABC Electrification

Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd.Cleveland House, Yarm Road, Darlington, Co. Durham DL1 4DE, UK

T. +44 (0) 1325 381188F. +44 (0) 1325 382320E. info@clevelandbridge.com clevelandbridge.com