Aggregate Industries lightens the load for the Acton Swing Bridge

Aggregates Industries recently lightened the load for the 73m-long bow string truss Acton Swing Bridge in England. When opened in 1933, it was the first floating swing bridge in the UK – floating on a pontoon. The 84-year-old bridge, which is cared for by the Canal & River Trust charity, carries the busy A49 road over the River Weaver Navigation, in the county of Cheshire. A recent €1.7 million complete refurbishment included strengthening works to the underside of the bridge as well as improvements to its
October 2, 2018 Read time: 3 mins
Work in full swing on the Acton Swing Bridge
Aggregates Industries recently lightened the load for the 73m-long bow string truss Acton Swing Bridge in England. When opened in 1933, it was the first floating swing bridge in the UK – floating on a pontoon.


The 84-year-old bridge, which is cared for by the Canal & River Trust charity, carries the busy A49 road over the River Weaver Navigation, in the county of Cheshire. A recent €1.7 million complete refurbishment included strengthening works to the underside of the bridge as well as improvements to its appearance.

Core to the project’s success was the ability to enhance the bridge’s structural integrity to allow for heavier traffic. The challenge was to do this without an increase of mass – given the required 2.5m allowance for boats passing underneath.

As such, 2297 Aggregate Industries’ Lytag secondary aggregate - up to 50% lighter than normal weight aggregate - was chosen by lead contractor Kier Construction. By using Lytag to replace the infill with the framework, the weight was effectively reduced from 2,400kg/m³ to 1,650kg/m³. This gave increased flexibility and durability for Kier, while ensuring an increased overall strength. The approach also negated the need for quarried aggregate, helping to reduce material requirements and ensure efficiencies.

With works now complete, the contract saw Aggregate Industries supply 100tonnes of 0/14mm Lytag - a tailored blend of aggregates specifically designed to offer a greater reduction in concrete density.

The design freedom afforded by Lytag offers the same level of structural performance as normal weight concrete, explained Steve Curley, general manager for Lytag at Aggregate Industries.


“However, it is significantly lighter, thus reducing the dead load of a construction. In projects such as Acton Swing Bridge, where strengthening works need to be achieved without resulting in an increase to size or mass, this product can really make the otherwise infeasible achievable.”

The lightweight concrete has a density of 1,850kg/m³ using natural fines (normal weight concrete of 2,400 kg/m³). If fines are used in conjunction with the 4/14mm aggregate, the density can be as low as 1,650kg/m³.

Using Lytag within the design can not only reduce the thickness of the slab, columns and foundations but reduce the amount of rebar required, resulting in a quicker more cost-effective greener structure.

Aggregate Industries is a member of the Swiss global building materials provider LafargeHolcim Group.

Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Machine and machine control innovations in concrete paving
    June 28, 2013
    Machine innovations and machine control advances are the latest news in the concrete paving sector - Mike Woof reports. While machine control systems were pioneered in the concrete paving market, continuous refinement of the technologies is offering major improvements for customers. Customers have a choice now of more than one supplier while the packages are said to be more user-friendly than before. And in addition, the systems themselves can be more closely integrated into the machines due to advances mad
    Read More
  • Modern aggregate crushing and screening
    July 9, 2012
    Turning aggregates production into a truly industrial process and providing customers with accurately fine-tuned aggregates mixes is the secret behind the success of Vezzola, a family-owned company with operations in Italy's Lake Garda region. Vezzola's fully-equipped stationary plant in Montichiari, probably the country's most modern facility of this type, can produce up to 500 different aggregates recipes. The plant is another successful delivery by Metso's Mining and Construction Technology. Processing s
    Read More
  • Mecalac presents new AS 1600 swing loader
    January 30, 2015
    A new four-wheel steered swing loader in the 11tonne-class, the AS 1600, is being introduced by Mecalac to replace its predecessor, the AS 150, that for 13 years was the flagship in the top performance class. The AS 1600 comes in an entirely new design and with a number of features that Mecalac developed for the first time for a loader of this class. These include a new intuitive operating concept; the new traction drive with MDrive; a new low-emission engine; the load-sensing hydraulic system with flow
    Read More
  • Mecalac presents new AS 1600 swing loader
    January 6, 2017
    A new four-wheel steered swing loader in the 11tonne-class, the AS 1600, is being introduced by Mecalac to replace its predecessor, the AS 150, that for 13 years was the flagship in the top performance class. The AS 1600 comes in an entirely new design and with a number of features that Mecalac developed for the first time for a loader of this class. These include a new intuitive operating concept; the new traction drive with MDrive; a new low-emission engine; the load-sensing hydraulic system with flow
    Read More

Highlighted Content