Bridge construction uses mountain building techniques

Grant Prior 6 years ago
Share

The first steel sections are being installed this week to form a new bridge in Cornwall using construction techniques perfected in the Swiss Alps

The new 70m-span footbridge from the mainland to Tintagel Castle island is being built for English Heritage by main contractor American Bridge UK.

The bridge has been divided into 12 separate sections, each made from up to 4.5 tonnes of steel.

They are arriving in Tintagel village fully fabricated and will be lifted into place at the castle by a cable crane installed and operated by French specialist VLM to form the crossing designed by Ney & Partners and William Matthews Associates Architectural Practice.

Tintagel’s remote location and challenging landscape have called for an innovative approach to the construction.

The bridge is made from two cantilevers, which reach out and almost touch in the middle.

It will be installed without scaffolding or free standing supports; instead, an unusual cable crane has been constructed for the task.

Using technology pioneered in the Swiss Alps, the cable crane has already been used to deliver materials to the site, put in place the rock anchors and build the foundations for the bridge.

Now it is being called into action to drop each of the pre-fabricated sections of the bridge into place.

Georgia Butters, English Heritage’s Head of Historic Properties in Cornwall, said: ‘This is the moment we’ve all been looking forward to.

“Preparation work for the bridge began in the autumn, with the installation of the rock anchors and foundations, but this is when we can start to see all that work really coming together.

“Following the arrival of the first pieces this week, we will quickly see the bridge take shape. It will be a spectacular new addition to the site, and will hugely improve the experience and access for our visitors.’

Latest news

Fall in office and housing activity dents industry output

Confidence fragile after 0.2% dip in output for second month
23 hours ago

Cat deal sees Flannery plant investment top £100m this year

Leading plant hirer continues to invest in fleet
21 hours ago

Lendlease OK’d to start Birmingham’s £1.9bn Smithfield scheme

First phase of 400 build to rent homes at Manor Square approved
24 hours ago

Fresh plan for £170m Newcastle resi tower and hotel

Gainford Group scales down New Bridge Street scheme to 29 storeys
24 hours ago

Berkeley warns over-regulation a drag on planning reform gains

House builder joins calls for urgent Gateway 2 building safety regulator reform
23 hours ago

Mace confirmed for £140m Gatwick Airport Pier 6 extension

Contractor PJ Hegarty has started enabling works in middle of busy airport
2 days ago

Cost of M3 upgrade soars by £70m

Budget for VolkerFitzpatrick/Balfour Beatty road job jumps to £280m
1 day ago

Graham takes on ISG £45m Coventry cultural hub job

Firm will start conversion work in the Spring on former IKEA store
2 days ago

Alun Griffiths to “restructure and resize” after £95m loss

Redundancies due to be announced at Welsh civils contractor
3 days ago

Fire safety project approval delays hit Van Elle profits

Piling specialist also reviews future of Canadian operation amid fresh economic uncertainty
2 days ago

JRL Malaysian backers plan £150m London city office refurb

Ardmore set to deliver landmark 25 Finsbury Circus building overhaul
2 days ago

500-home block to replace 19 storey Sutton office tower

Landmark project to deliver 312 Build to rent and 195 co-living homes
2 days ago

Building envelope specialist Bailey buys Comar

Specialist now offers complete building envelope solutions
2 days ago

Subcontractors wanted for work across Wales

Big name buyers at latest Constructionline event: Register now
2 days ago

Balfour Beatty profit dented by £83m building safety hit

Increased order book at £18bn secures growth over next two years
3 days ago

Expanding utilities specialist Ipsum buys Matrix Power

Power engineering contractor takeover will strengthen offer in North East
3 days ago

Historic scaffolding firm files administration notice

Hertfordshire based Rodells has been trading since 1898
3 days ago

Planning Bill to have “seismic” impact on construction

Building-boosting reforms go before Parliament
4 days ago

Briggs & Forrester hits record revenue and orders

M&E specialist rebounds with strong growth across three divisions
3 days ago

Man Utd confirm plan for £2bn ‘super-tent’ stadium

Club to press ahead with 100,000-seat 'Wembley of the North'
4 days ago

Government spending keeps profits edging-up at Kier

91% of work now with public sector and regulated companies
4 days ago

Costain on track for step change to 5% margin

Alex Vaughan says order book has jumped £1.5bn to £5.4bn
4 days ago

Mace tops February contracts league

Confirmation of £300m London Victoria Street project lifts firm to pole position
4 days ago

Wates raids Laing O’Rourke for new construction operations chief

George Mosey leaves Laing O'Rourke after 16 years
5 days ago

Travis Perkins CEO Pete Redfern steps down due to ill health

Redfern joined builders' merchant last year after 14 years at Taylor Wimpey
5 days ago

Morgan Sindall wins £61m Liverpool lab scheme

Construction to start this Autumn on latest Knowledge Quarter project
4 days ago

Glencar to build timber-framed office block

Work to start next month on 79,200 sq ft scheme in Maidenhead
5 days ago

Shed specialist Marbank files administration notice

£67m turnover portal-framed building specialist files court notice
5 days ago

Birmingham council submits £1bn Druids Heath plan

High rise estate to be replaced by-3,500 home eco village
5 days ago

Cannabis farm gang posed as utilities contractor

Gang jailed for 28 years after diverting power to more than 100 cannabis farms
1 week ago

Contractor services