Historic bridge project of the year

This award celebrates outstanding historic bridge projects .

AtkinsRéalis
Tintern Wireworks Bridge Refurbishment and Strengthening

Tintern Wireworks Bridge Refurbishment and Strengthening is a revolutionary project demonstrating the harmonious partnership between traditional and modern engineering, enabling the preservation of this grade II listed structure for future generations. Work involved installing a new steel deck, refurbishing the original wrought iron girders, masonry restoration of walls and piers, strengthening abutment, new timber planks, and reinstating approaches. Complex and challenging constraints around buildability, environmental, and social aspects are overcome through collaboration with industry experts during early contractual involvement. A unique combination of a railing and launching system was utilised within a fully encapsulated environment, resulting in a successful scheme.

Bam UK&I
King Edward Bridge CP6 PACE Phase 2

The inspection and assessment of King Edward VII Bridge has employed several emerging technologies, using emerging and local supply chain partners to seek new, safer, more efficient ways of carrying out structural analysis, assessment and monitoring. The size and location of the structure presented significant challenges which were overcome using digital techniques to deliver a targeted inspection and monitoring scheme, alongside a comprehensive, detailed structural assessment. The outcome provided a targeted scope of repair and strengthening works which has significantly reduced the amount of work required and allowed the Network Rail team to maximise outcomes from the available funding.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, David Symonds Associates, Walsh Construction
Stanway Viaduct

This project tackled an additional and unexpected challenge: failure of a mortar joint at the base of historic Stanway Viaduct’s 200m-long parapets. A routine drainage improvement contract uncovered a potentially serious failure of the parapets. Collaborative and imaginative team effort quickly led to the option chosen to stabilise them, taking into account engineering robustness, safety, conservation, time, cost and the viaduct’s heritage. The work was completed efficiently and swiftly, enabling the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway to reopen its line in the Cotswolds with minimum delay and consequent revenue benefit.

Network Rail
Barmouth Viaduct Metallic Works

The Barmouth viaduct often plays backdrop to people’s holiday photos & has provided a vital draw to tourism since it was originally constructed in 1867. It provides a critically important link for services along the Cambrian coastline for tourists and locals. The scope was to undertake a like-for-like superstructure replacement of the iconic much-loved Grade II* listed structure – as well as undertaking repairs to substructure caissons. Network rail worked collaboratively with Griffiths Contractors & Tony Gee and Partners to develop the unique methodology that allowed the works to be completed on time, to budget & above all safely.

Pell Frischmann
Parkhead Viaduct Strengthening and Refurbishment

The locally significant Parkhead Viaduct; constructed 1850 near Dudley, once carried the former Great Western Railway over the Pensnett and Dudley Canals and basins has been disused since 1993. The project brings this historic structure back into service for the West Midland Metro but also allows for the potential for heavy rail traffic to operate in the future. Through thorough investigations and a rigorous design review process, we applied sympathetic strengthening measures to restore the structure. Our reuse of the existing structure, sympathetic remedial work, and efficient use of additional material have resulted in a low-carbon solution for our client.

Spencer Bridge Engineering
Menai Bridge Emergency Works

Following hanger analysis, the Menai Suspension Bridge was immediately closed to traffic on 21st October 2022. During November 2022, a design was rapidly developed, procured and installed by Spencer Bridge Engineering to provide Secondary Fail-Safes (SFS’s) at strategic locations, thus enabling the bridge to be reopened safely. Despite persistent rain and howling winds throughout January, 106 SFS’s were installed on the bridge in less than 4-weeks on-site, resulting in re-opening of the structure on-time on the 1st of February - a feat rarely achieved on such a significant historic asset, requiring major structural intervention, under intense pressure and scrutiny.

Spencer Group
Union Chain Bridge Restoration

The restoration of Union Chain Bridge is a hugely important project, reinstating a key crossing point between the Scottish Borders and Northumberland, and protecting the historic structure for many, many years to come. Spencer Group’s innovative methodology included working from an overhead cable crane allowed the successful completion of the project. This unique approach to the restoration works and the hard work and commitment shown by the delivery team has resulted in an International Historic Engineering Landmark designation by the American and Japanese Societies of Civil Engineers (ASCE, JSCE), the IStructE and the ICE.

Staffordshire County Council and Amey
A513 Chetwynd Grade 2* Listed Bridge Refurbishment

The Grade 2* Listed Chetwynd Bridge, adjacent to the National Memorial Arboretum, was constructed in 1824 by the Coalbrookdale Company, and deemed a younger sister of the original Ironbridge. Innovative assessment and strengthening supported a sensitive refurbishment, to recast damaged decorative cast iron components, with internal strengthening hidden from view. The scheme was delivered to budget and programme, whilst keep the route open, avoiding a 20-mile traffic diversion. The optimised use of solar energy saved a further 70 tonnes of carbon emission. The scheme has received nine regional industry awards and the structure now removed from Heritage at Risk Register.