Skip to main content

Mersey Gateway Bridge project progress

Work is well in hand on the Mersey Gateway Bridge project in the UK. The bridge construction work has now reached a major milestone. The south pylon of the Mersey Gateway has been completed, marking the project’s highest point in the River Mersey estuary. The south pylon stands 125m high, with the north pylon due to be completed in the next few days. The smaller central pylon, which is due to be finished in November, will be 80m high. A specialist automatic climbing system is being used to construct the
October 6, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The Mersey Gateway Bridge project in the UK has reached a major milestone in its construction
Work is well in hand on the 6126 Mersey Gateway Bridge project in the UK. The bridge construction work has now reached a major milestone. The south pylon of the Mersey Gateway has been completed, marking the project’s highest point in the River Mersey estuary. The south pylon stands 125m high, with the north pylon due to be completed in the next few days. The smaller central pylon, which is due to be finished in November, will be 80m high.

A specialist automatic climbing system is being used to construct the bridge pylons. This equipment builds one vertical 5m section at a time. It then repeatedly climbs upwards to create the next section until the structure is complete. Construction teams have completed 30 sections for the south pylon and 27 for the north pylon. In all, 21 sections will be built for the central pylon. A total of 2,230m3 of concrete was poured for the south pylon, and 1,890m3 for the north pylon.

Gareth Stuart, project director at Merseylink, said, “Hitting the highest point on the project is a significant milestone and it’s a testament to the tenacity and expertise of our construction crews who have worked extremely hard, often in challenging conditions, to get the job done. We’ll be holding a special site celebration to thank all of the teams involved.”

The next phase of work involves installing steel stay cables to connect the three bridge pylons to the main bridge deck. This will begin in the next couple of weeks. Halton’s six-lane river crossing is on schedule to open in autumn 2017.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Highway work boost in North Africa
    August 21, 2012
    North Africa is seeing construction business return - Mike Woof reports After a troubled period, stability looks to be returning to North African nations, which can only be good for the road construction sector. First Tunisia, then Egypt and finally Libya saw tumultuous revolts against the previous autocratic (and in one case at least, despotic) rulers. All three nations are now benefiting from a return to stability, with economic growth also improving once more.
  • Utah key highway connection project
    February 23, 2018
    Work is now complete for the second phase of the Mountain View Corridor project in the US state of Utah. The 4km greenfield roadway runs from 5400 South to 4100 South in West Valley City. The project was designed and built jointly by Michael Baker International, Ralph L Wadsworth and Staker Parsons. Phase two of the Mountain View Corridor project included 14 mainline bridges, as well as seven pedestrian bridges and intersection reconstruction, and vital safety improvements to accommodate growth in Salt Lake
  • Repairs to piers on Italian viaduct
    July 17, 2012
    Hydrodemolition played a vital role in the repairs and strengthening of the multi-span Rio Verde Viaduct, one of the tallest in Europe, that carries the busy dual two-lane A15/E33 Autostrada della Cisa over a steep-sided valley in the municipality of Pontremoli, north-west Italy. Conjet hydrodemolition equipment was used to remove damaged concrete from the faces of the viaduct's rectangular concrete piers, which rise up to 136m from the valley bottom to the steel deck. A new and thicker concrete skin was th
  • Repairs to piers on Italian viaduct
    July 17, 2012
    Hydrodemolition played a vital role in the repairs and strengthening of the multi-span Rio Verde Viaduct, one of the tallest in Europe, that carries the busy dual two-lane A15/E33 Autostrada della Cisa over a steep-sided valley in the municipality of Pontremoli, north-west Italy. Conjet hydrodemolition equipment was used to remove damaged concrete from the faces of the viaduct's rectangular concrete piers, which rise up to 136m from the valley bottom to the steel deck. A new and thicker concrete skin was th