Due to the complex riverside location of the site, construction of the bridge from the land was not possible, meaning the project team had to install an extensive amount of piled foundations whilst reinforcing concrete abutments to support a statement bridge. This challenge was accentuated by the need to complete one of the abutments entirely from the water requiring specialist equipment, in - cluding pontoons and cranes specifically designed for the task. The 40-tonne bridge was then delivered in pieces and assembled a mile down river. Kevin Kirkland continues: “Finding solutions to complex access prob - lems is a major reason why our customers come back to us time and time again. “This project will always stand out in my memory. I will never forget floating a 40 tonne, fully built bridge up the River Thames. Most of all though is the fact that this project possibly would never have happened if we hadn’t been able to find such a creative solution.” Bishopsford Bridge Another high-risk test the Land & Water team faced within the past year was the demolition of Bishopsford Bridge in Mitcham, South London. The project involved the Land & Water team carefully dismantling the partially collapsed, 200-year-old three arch bridge and adjoining footbridge, whilst maintaining the water flow of the River Wandle. Land & Water worked successfully with engineers Tony Gee & Part - ners to design a solution that stabilized 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. About Land & Water Land & Water is an award-winning inland waterway and coastal civil and environmental engineering company based in the UK. Throughout their 40-year history, their name has become synonymous with finding creative and effective solutions to complex challenges in the specialist environment where land and water meet. Often working in complex or sensitive habitats, their work is always completed with sympathy to the local surroundings, people, and the environment.
Land & Water’s most bespoke projects as the deck of the bridge also branches in two parts to form a Y-shape. Goodman’s Yard The Goodman’s Yard project saw the installation of a footbridge over The Worcester and Birmingham Canal. A vital connection for the com - munity, the bridge connects 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 dur - ing the on-site works. Committed where possible to engage with local contractors and suppliers, Land & Water worked closely with local engineering contractor, JOS Structures, to design a radical approach ramp. As part of this solution, over 1,000 m3 of concrete was used to form the ramps and bridge approaches. The bridge itself was fabricated off-site by another local business, SHS Structures, before being lifted into place. Land & Water’s Managing Director, Kevin Kirkland, says: “As a com - pany we pride ourselves on being innovative and finding solutions to complex access problems which is why we are often the chosen contrac - tor when it comes to constructing and installing bridges over water.” Taplow Another example of connecting local communities whilst working with sensitive environmental factors, Land & Water installed a footbridge over the River Thames. As part of its works with another housing de - veloper, Berkeley Homes, the bridge now connects Ray Mill Island with a housebuilders development at Taplow in Berkshire.
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csengineermag.com
November 2022
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