Mechanical Engineering, bridge bearings, structural engineering Specialists In Structural Movement Control
Mechanical Engineers Specialising In Structural Movement Control
Supplied: 4 no Link Bearings
A548 Foryd Road Bridge - Link Bearing Replacement
Originally opened on June 16 1932, Foryd Bridge was designed by RG Whitley and constructed by Messrs Dorman, Long and Co. The bridge spans the mouth of the river Clwyd at Foryd, Rhyl, and was designed to link Wellington Road and Rhyl’s Promenade with a new road from Foryd to Pensarn.
Following investigations into the structural integrity of various elements of the bridge, including a bearing inspection by Ekspan in 2007, Denbighshire County Council’s Highways and Infrastructure department awarded a £0.5m contract to work with contractors, Dawnus Construction to carry out complex and
essential refurbishment work. Four of the existing eight bearings at the free ends of the bridge were seized and not operating in line with their original design.
Job Brief
Background Information
Project Team
Client: Denbighshire County Council
Main Contractor: Dawnus Construction
Sub Contractor: Ekspan
Start Date: October 2010
Completion Date: November 2010
Link Bearings
Ekspan were commissioned by Dawnus Construction to remove the existing 4 no worn link bearings (2 no located on each of the free abutments) and replace with new fabricated bearings. The work was programmed to be carried out in one uninterrupted phase by working on 2 bearings at any one time.
With precise planning the scope of works included temporary works design and installation, hydraulic jacking of the bridge during night shifts, removal and installation of new bearings, de-jacking and removal of temporary works.
The works were complex and required careful planning to accommodate tidal working whilst working with other contractors to minimise impact on inevitable traffic delays and to also complete the works as quickly as possible. This was achieved by working to tide tables and allowing for 24 hour cover, on both above
and below road level.
The installation carried out by Ekspan was successfully completed on time and to budget, and thus helped to deliver the £0.5m scheme for Denbighshire County Council, despite having to deal with difficult weather conditions, tides and 24 hour days working 7 days per week.
Ekspan's Solution
