Bishopsford Bridge
Bridges over water are a critical component of any country’s infra- structure. They influence the environment and economy and form an important role in connecting communities, goods, and services. As leading wet civil engineers, Land & Water has continued to deliver infrastructure projects throughout the UK this year, despite the current pandemic and increased health and safety measures. The company prides itself on having the specialist knowledge and equipment to work in areas with access constraints or sensitive habitats where a strong environmen- tal discipline is required. From undertaking what can essentially be described as "open heart surgery" to a partially collapsed three arch bridge spanning the River Wandle to a footbridge installation over the Worcester and Birming- ham Canal, Land & Water has continued to trade strongly and deliver projects that will benefit the local community and environment. Bishopsford Bridge The most high-risk test the Land & Water team faced this year was the demolition of Bishopsford Bridge in Mitcham, South London. The project, which began in April and lasted three months, involved the Land & Water team carefully dismantling the partially collapsed, 200-year-old three arch bridge and adjoining footbridge, whilst main- taining the water flow of the River Wandle. Land & Water worked successfully with engineers Tony Gee & Part - ners to design a solution that stabilised the central arch of the bridge by filling it with concrete, before demolishing the arches to each side and then removing the central arch, using long reach excavators. This prevented the unintentional collapse of the damaged structure, which could have resulted in flooding. The already complex task was made even more challenging by the range of utilities which ran through the structure of the bridge, includ- ing gas pipes and broadband cabling. The team had to carefully extract each utility service and support them on a temporary gantry while the demolition work was in progress. Goodman’s Yard The Goodman’s Yard project, which is due to complete at the end of September on behalf of client Landsec, has seen the installation of a footbridge over The Worcester and Birmingham Canal. The bridge will connect student accommodation, a Sainsbury’s supermarket and Selly Oak Shopping Park to Bristol Road which runs alongside the Canal. As the design and build contractor, Land & Water worked tirelessly to deliver the overall vision of the project, in collaboration with architects Piper Whitlock and consulting engineers Tony Gee & Partners. The approach ramps caused various difficulties for the engineers during the on-site works. Land &Water worked closely with local engineering
contractor, JOS Structures, to design a radical approach ramp. As part of this solution, over 1,000m3 of concrete was used to form the ramps and bridge approaches. Land & Water is committed where possible to engage with local contractors and suppliers. The bridge itself was fabricated off-site by another local business, SHS Structures, before being lifted into place. Land &Water’s Managing Director, Adrian Gascoyne, says: “We have all witnessed such unprecedented circumstances over the past couple of months with the Coronavirus pandemic but also the closing down of businesses, including many of our merchants. “Despite this, Land & Water has successfully delivered a number of infrastructure projects across the UK with little disruption and we are now on track for a successful year. “As a company we pride ourselves on being innovative and finding solutions to complex access problems which is why we are often the chosen contractor when it comes to constructing and installing bridges over water.” Campbell Wharf Marina project Within the past year, Land & Water was also instructed to install an innovative three-way footbridge at Campbell Wharf Marina in Milton Keynes, as part of Crest Nicholson’s new housing development. This project, which took place over 45 weeks, was also a wider col- laboration between the housebuilder and civil engineering firm which saw Land & Water develop the marina’s full design, including all ser - vice points, a car park and improved walkways and cycle paths as well
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september 2020
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