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

  • Effective crushing and screening key to quality
    February 22, 2012
    Efficient crushing and screening processes help produce quality products, Mike Woof reports. Having an efficient crushing and screening operation is crucial to the cost-effectiveness of a quarry as well as providing the best quality product. The crushing circuit is a key component in any quarry with the right selection of equipment as well as effective maintenance important factors in optimising performance.
    Read More
  • Duisburg double for lift specialist Sarens
    June 5, 2024
    Heavy lift specialist Sarens overcame challenging wind and water conditions during installation of two strategic road bridges - the Oberbürgermeister Karl Lehr Brücke and the Hafenkanalbrücke - in the German city of Duisburg.
    Read More
  • Hanson hails the era of the low-entry Mercedes Econic truck
    July 10, 2018
    UK materials supplier Hanson has taken delivery of the first of 40 low-entry Mercedes Econic cabbed ready-mixed concrete trucks. Hanson said that the low-entry vehicles reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to road safety. The Euro 6-engined trucks have a panoramic glass cab and are fitted with 360° cameras. This, coupled with the lower driving position, says Hanson, significantly improves the driver’s visibility of cyclists and pedestrians, particularly on the near side, according to Hanson. The high
    Read More
  • CONTROLS tackles fibre-reinforced concrete with new testing system
    July 19, 2017
    Fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) has long been used for road pavements and is now a common material for civil engineering applications such as precast tunnel segments and sprayed concrete linings. However, testing FRC is challenging because the fibres – which are usually steel or macro-synthetic – rupture suddenly, causing the specimen to lose its bearing capacity. During this critical phase any sudden release of elastic energy by the frame of the testing machine may cause the premature rupture of the specim
    Read More

Highlighted Content