Landmark new UK bridge project

COWI is working on a landmark UK bridge project.
By MJ Woof December 2, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
The Carrington Bridge is the first in the UK to feature a new steel grade - image © courtesy of Alun Griffiths Contractors Ltd
The new Carrington Bridge project in Worcester is the first UK bridge to use a new higher-strength grade of weathering steel. This S460W material offers structural and environmental benefits.

Using this stronger grade of steel enabled the COWI design team to reduce the total material quantity by 15%, resulting in a more sustainable structure. The reduced quantity of steel reduces associated carbon emissions from manufacturing and transport. The use of corrosion-resistant weathering steel means the steelwork does not require painting, a further environmental benefit.

The use of weathering steel also made it easier to transport and lift the girders. These were delivered to site in segments of up to 48m, then spliced into whole-span lengths of 80m before being lifted onto their supports by a 1,200tonne capacity mobile crane, one of the UK’s largest. The final two crane lifts over the River Severn were achieved at a radius of 80m with the crane boom extended to its maximum length of 180m.

COWI won the work on the project with Alun Griffiths Contractors, as part of an ECI scheme, to design the three-span composite road bridge, as well as the geotechnical design of the road embankment, retaining walls and slope stabilisation measures. The bridge has a total length of 205m and forms part of the Worcester Southern Link Road project, which will convert the A4440 from single to dual carriageway, relieving traffic congestion in the area. The steelwork for Carrington Bridge was fabricated and installed by Cleveland Bridge.

The 2.5km long highway scheme includes another significant viaduct as well as a landmark footbridge, also designed by COWI. In addition to designing the structures, COWI was also responsible for all of the geotechnical design of the project, including earthworks. Completion of the bridge is planned for spring 2021.
Materials

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Delta Bloc solution for major upgrade to UK’s M6 motorway
    February 8, 2018
    Delta Bloc’s structural precast concrete barriers have been supplied for a €308 million smart motorway project being undertaken by Highways England on the M6 Motorway. UK contractor Charcon Construction Solutions worked with Delta Bloc UK, which develops, manufactures, supplies and installs permanent and temporary concrete road safety barriers. The Highways England scheme between junction 16 at Crewe and junction 19 at Knutsford has seen a new 32km concrete safety barrier installed in the central reservat
    Read More
  • Seal of approval for Sika
    June 22, 2012
    Skikaflex Construction by UK-based Sika was chosen by Skanska Balfour Beatty Joint Venture to seal movement joints during the widening of one of Europe’s busiest motorways. The M25, also known as the London Orbital, handles around 200,000 vehicles every day on its busiest sections. Its widening between junctions 27 and 30 is said to be delivering much needed extra capacity to tackle congestion and improve journey times.
    Read More
  • The concrete option
    July 31, 2012
    Concrete highway construction techniques and technology continues to evolve. Mike Woof reports The recent increases in oil costs are having a knock-on effect for the road construction sector, as asphalt prices have increased noticeably and faster than those for concrete. This has spurred renewed discussion over which construction technique now offers the best long term solution for road building. The debate between those in favour of concrete and those preferring asphalt for highway construction has been on
    Read More
  • Zoomlion unveils new crawler crane
    January 6, 2017
    The Zoomlion HCC-80 is the latest edition to its crawler crane range. Weighing in at 72.5tonnes, GCS says the HCC-80 is easy to transport, and is among the first in the industry to meet ANSI standards for safe operation. The crane is also said to be ideal for general construction, bridgework and pile driving applications, as well as oil refinery and power plant work.
    Read More

Highlighted Content