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Supplied: K series Pot Bearings

Southport Marine Parade Link Bridge

The original Victorian bridge was built in 1895 but was closed in 1990 when it was found to be unsafe. Many of the support beams and key structural points were heavily corroded and crumbling. The original bridge was only ever intended pedestrians and light traffic, however with the advancement of technology it was only a matter of time before the old bridge needed replacing. The New Marine Parade Bridge was commissioned as part of the ongoing regeneration of Southports Seafront. The bridge will provide an important transport link that will help to improve the link between Southports town and seafront.
The new bridge can be seen from as far away as Blackpool and Wirral, and it will be a huge attraction for visitors to Southport. This is a cable stayed A pylon asymmetric design. The overall length of the bridge is 115 metres with the main span being 80 metres in length.

Job Brief

Background Information

Project Team

Client: Sefton Borough Council
Consulting Engineers: Babtie
Main Contractor: Balfour Beatty, Construction Limited
Start Date: November 2002
Completion Date: April 2004

 

Bearings

 

Ekspan Ltd. supplied a total of 6 steel pot bearings to the project. The largest bearing supplied is designed to take 700 tonnes of vertical load, and has an enhanced guide capacity. This bearing is situated at the pylon along with a free sliding pot bearing. Some of the Free and Guided bearings had to allow for up to 150mm movement (+/-75mm) longitudinally. We managed to accommodate this extra movement by manufacturing larger top plates. All of the bearings that we manufactured had the following features, welded mirror polished stainless steel sliding surfaces, dimpled and greased PTFE, 2 brass ring sets and recessed elastomers. These features enhance the life and quality of the bearing are included as standard for all of our Pot bearings.

Ekspan's Solution

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