Engineers launch 4,750t Sunderland bridge deck

Aaron Morby 8 years ago
Share

The bridge deck for the New Wear Crossing was launched across Sunderland’s river on Sunday.

Joint venture builders Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction will now slowly push the 300m deck across river over the next few days using hydraulic jacks.

Once in place, the deck will span from where it has been assembled on the south side of the river in Pallion to the north side in Castletown.

Stephen McCaffrey, Project Director for FVB Joint Venture, said the project was progressing well and was on track to open on time next spring.

“At 300 metres long and weighing 4,750 tonnes, the deck is a substantial structure so moving it out across the river will be a very slow and steady operation.

“It has been in the planning for a long time, and has been calculated to the nearest millimetre, so we will be monitoring it throughout to ensure it progresses in the way we expect.

New_Wear_Crossing_preparing_for_phase_2_Bridge_Deck_launch

New Wear Crossing preparation for phase 2 bridge deck launch

“While people may not actually be able to see the deck itself moving, as it does so very slowly, over time they will see progress. We don’t expect it to be finished until Tuesday or Wednesday, at the earliest, but once complete, I’m sure people will feel that the bridge is visibly taking shape.”

During the summer months, the final 40m of bridge deck will be constructed on the north side of the river and the cable stays will be fitted to the pylon and then attached to the deck.

The cables will be gradually stressed to take the weight of the bridge deck before the temporary supports holding the deck are removed.

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “There are no doubts in my mind that this bridge will attract investment into Sunderland, help to create thousands of jobs, and improve travel time for motorists and those on public transport. It is going to be great news for the city.”

Since construction got underway on the New Wear Crossing in May 2015, much of the work has centred around building the cofferdam and pylon foundations within the riverbed, constructing the approach roads on the south side, and assembling the bridge deck.

Roadworks have also been carried out on both sides of the river to prepare the current road network for the opening of the bridge in the spring of 2018.

 

 

Latest news

Skanska signs £197m deal for Mayfair offices job

South Molton job consists of two big office buildings
22 hours ago

Cost of fixing unsafe cladding soars to over £16bn

Watchdog urges new 'hard target date' to complete all recladding works
23 hours ago

Scottish Water opens bidding on £800m framework

Innovative ceramic membrane water treatment works programme
23 hours ago

Carbon capture concrete hits London sites

Neustark and Aggregate Industries launch new technology to UK market
22 hours ago

Six win £300m cladding retrofit deal

Major social landlord Riverside Group to reclad 22 towers
23 hours ago

Winchmore lands brickwork package on Graham £80m academy

Alkerden Academy is one of the largest schools to be built in the region
23 hours ago

Construction firms blast “true cost of Budget”

Firms fear tax hikes will lead to reduced hours and job cuts for staff
4 days ago

Steel bridge specialist sold to staff

Nusteel Structures Group becomes industry's latest Employee Owned Trust
4 days ago

Ex-Lendlease chief to lead Euston housing regeneration

Bek Seeley to head Euston Housing Delivery Group
4 days ago

Ardmore lands Kensington hotel revamp

Contractor to transform former Kensington Holiday Inn
4 days ago

RED wins £35m brace of projects in Bristol

Works include student halls and major facade fire safety remediation
4 days ago

Wates starts £300m Gartree super prison job

Early works start on 1,700-prison place job next to existing prison
5 days ago

Five road schemes worth £1.3bn axed

Still no decision on £1.5bn A66 upgrade or £9bn Lower Thames Crossing
5 days ago

Budget: Chancellor to fund HS2 tunnels to Euston

Schools and hospitals get extra £1.85bn cash injection to tackle work backlog
6 days ago

Skills card changes will mean fewer labourers

CSCS wants to cut the numbers with 500,000 labourer cards currently in circulation
5 days ago

Wates hires former ISG fit-out chief to lead new team

Lee Phillips to head up new London office fit-out arm
6 days ago

Major London offices to student rooms scheme approved

65 Fleet Street office block to be converted to 850-student rooms
5 days ago

M Group Services buys MEICA contractor BGEN

Warrington-based engineering contractor employs 1500 staff
5 days ago

VINCI Construction swoops for FM Conway

Conway family sells £580m turnover Kent-based highways contractor
6 days ago

United Living bolts on property upkeep firm Pilon

Deal to buy £40m turnover social housing property services contractor
6 days ago

Sheffield facade specialist bought by Swedish firm

Building envelope giant Fasadgruppen makes first UK acquisition
6 days ago

Nexus buys Coleman Construction & Utilities for £5.4m

Nexus moves into civils with acquisition of East Sussex contractor
6 days ago

Councils get £68m to clear brownfield sites

Site renovation work will clear way for 5,200 new homes
6 days ago

Private investor buys Midlands contractor MCS

Deal values £100m revenue building contractor at £22m
6 days ago

Willmott Dixon to build Oxford net zero council HQ

Work to start next year on net zero office upgrade as Old County Hall sold off
6 days ago

Phoenix subbies get pay less notices after ISG failure

Building services specialist tells suppliers they won't be getting paid
7 days ago

Midgard confirmed on £60m Golden Lane office contract

Main works will create 120,000 sq ft of prime office space on historic site
7 days ago

Van Elle buys Scottish specialist Albion Drilling for £3.5m

Acquisition builds capability in Scotland's booming energy sector
7 days ago

French PM and cost consultant Artelia buys Pick Everard

Artelia UK operations swell to nearly 1000 staff after bolting on UK consultant
7 days ago

Go-ahead for West London 58-storey resi skyscraper

North Acton scheme at Old Oak Common to form gateway to emerging cluster
1 week ago

Contractor services