First deck span completed for Mersey Gateway's north approach viaduct

The Mersey Gateway Project achieved another milestone as the first deck span for the elevated north approach viaduct was completed. The reinforced concrete deck span was revealed when Merseylink's movable scaffolding system (MSS) 'Trinity' moved to its second casting position. It is the first of 11 spans that will be cast by the MSS for the deck of the elevated approach viaduct on the north side of the River Mersey.
February 12, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

The 6126 Mersey Gateway Project achieved another milestone as the first deck span for the elevated north approach viaduct was completed.

The reinforced concrete deck span was revealed when Merseylink's movable scaffolding system (MSS) 'Trinity' moved to its second casting position. It is the first of 11 spans that will be cast by the MSS for the deck of the elevated approach viaduct on the north side of the River Mersey.

The MSS, which acts as a giant concrete mould, was specially designed for the Mersey Gateway Project. It is being used to build the two elevated approach viaducts over the Mersey estuary.

The span connects the beginning of the approach viaduct from the north abutment in Widnes to the first supporting pier. It measures around 60m long and 18m wide and is angled at 5 degrees to allow vehicles to travel safely around the curve of the approach road.

Construction teams worked around the clock to get the span ready. This involved pouring 1,146m3 of concrete into the MSS non-stop over 34 hours.


"This is a real achievement for the project and a milestone that we've been looking forward to with anticipation,” said Declan Cannar, Merseylink's general foreman in charge of the MSS operation. “We're now busy preparing the MSS so it's ready to cast the next section."

The approach viaduct deck is being constructed in three phases. The deck spans are constructed first by the MSS, then a deck slab is built on top of the span, and finally the outer deck or ‘wings' are built by a wing traveller machine to provide the full six lane width of the approach road.

The MSS has moved to its second casting position ready for work to begin on the next span, which will be cast in March.

View Trinity in action by clicking here.
%$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.merseygateway.co.uk/live-view Visit www.merseygateway.co.uk/live-view false http://www.merseygateway.co.uk/live-view false false%>

Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • PPRS: come together for International Road Maintenance Day
    March 27, 2018
    The world’s leading highway associations have launched International Road Maintenance Day to focus people everywhere on the protection of their local road networks. International Road Maintenance Day will take place on the first Thursday of every April, speakers said on day two of the Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit (PPRS Nice 2018). The first event will take place on April 5, 2018. “It will be one day per year to talk about the maintenance of our roads,” said Juan Jose Potti, the president of
    Read More
  • JCB’s Ecomax engines make their debut at bauma
    January 6, 2017
    JCB’s Ecomax engine – the company’s innovative solution to EU Stage IIIB/US Tier 4 emissions legislation - will be on show for the first time at bauma as machines powered by it make their debut. The UK-based construction equipment manufacturing giant claims it is the only leading equipment manufacturer in the world to have met the stringent Stage IIIB/Tier 4 interim emissions legislation without the use of diesel particulate filter (DPF) or after-treatment – resulting in the world’s cleanest and most effici
    Read More
  • JCB’s Ecomax engines make their debut at bauma
    February 18, 2013
    JCB’s Ecomax engine – the company’s innovative solution to EU Stage IIIB/US Tier 4 emissions legislation - will be on show for the first time at bauma as machines powered by it make their debut. The UK-based construction equipment manufacturing giant claims it is the only leading equipment manufacturer in the world to have met the stringent Stage IIIB/Tier 4 interim emissions legislation without the use of diesel particulate filter (DPF) or after-treatment – resulting in the world’s cleanest and most effici
    Read More
  • LiuGong 900E excavators “very key” for company future
    January 6, 2017
    A senior LiuGong figure says the company’s keenly awaited 900E Series excavator is a “very key machine” for its future. Dave Beatenbough, vice president of the Chinese construction equipment manufacturing giant’s research and development arm, said production of the model at LiuGong’s Dressta base in Poland was expected to begin “within three months”.
    Read More

Highlighted Content