Mechanical Engineering, bridge bearings, structural engineering Specialists In Structural Movement Control
Mechanical Engineers Specialising In Structural Movement Control
Supplied: Removal and installation of total 36 no. bearings
(18 per abutment)
Tipner Lake Bridge - North & South Abutment - Bearing Replacement
Tipner Lake Bridge carries part of the 3 lane motorway on the M275 located in City of Portsmouth and spans a length of 0.13 kilometres. As part of Portsmouth Council’s plans for upgrading the bridge, Colas Ltd were contracted to carry out all upgrades. A structural inspection carried out by Colas revealed the old elastomeric bearings previously installed were extensively corroded beyond repair and therefore made it necessary for these to be replaced.
Job Brief
Background Information
Project Team
Client: Colas Ltd
Main Contractor: Ekspan
Start Date: May 2014
Completion Date: June 2014
Ekspan was appointed by Colas Ltd, as principal contractor to carry out the removal of these old damaged elastomeric bearings and the subsequent installation of the new more current elastomeric bearings.
This project involved jacking the structure on both abutments to remove the load from the old bearings, so that these could be removed safely, and then de-jacking to transfer the load of the structure from the jacks to the new bearings once installation was complete - with careful monitoring carried out throught the whole process to ensure correct load transfer. Jacking had to be carried out during the night while the bridge was open and live to traffic.
Hydro-demolition was carried out to remove the old bearings, top plates and fixings.
The work area was adjacent to a water course, and access to the south abutment was restricted, so erection of the scaffold platform to work from had to be arranged at specified times to suit a single lane closure.
Ekspan's Workscope
Jacking of bridge abutment to allow bearing removal
New eleastomeric bearing installed