Bridge construction uses mountain building techniques

Grant Prior 5 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

Construction buyers see fastest growth for 14 months

Commercial building work leads the way in April
2 hours ago

Go Modular Technologies files administration notice

Southampton bespoke volumetric specialist employs around 60 staff
5 hours ago

Cladding firm went down owing supply chain £7.7m

Debts revealed at Everton stadium cladding contractor Alucraft Systems Ltd
5 hours ago

Rydon dogged by legacy fire safety remediation costs

£19m spent on fire safety remediation work to date
5 hours ago

Carpenter killed by falling timber frame panels

Court fines specialist contractor £8,000 after site tragedy
4 days ago

Trio of builders win King’s Award for sustainability

Henry Brothers, Willmott Dixon and ZED Pods recognised for sustainability
4 hours ago

Kent police seize huge haul of stolen site tools

Hunt for power drill fitted with tracker busts tool theft ring
5 hours ago

Robertson names new Northern construction chiefs

Ian Phillips promoted and Ricky Brown joins from Morgan Sindall
5 hours ago

Road sweeper specialist files administration notice

Go Plant lodges court notice
4 days ago

Anglian Homes rides in to finish crashed Everest contracts

Rival doubled glazed window specialist commits to complete orders
4 days ago

Final work starts to connect super sewer to London system

End in sight with 1.5m thick concrete wall to be demolished to link-up to Lee Tunnel sewer system
4 days ago

Legal challenge launched against £1.5bn A66 dualling

Balfour Beatty, Kier and Keltbray must now await outcome of court challenge
4 days ago

John F Hunt wins 24-storey Battersea tower

Specialist to carry-out demolition, enabling works and RC frame construction
5 days ago

William Hare wins steelwork on £500m Broadgate towers

Specialist to work on 2 Finsbury Avenue with McAlpine
5 days ago

McAlpine appoints MD to grow ventures business

Owain Thomas will build on private rental and healthcare development successes
5 days ago

BAM Co-op Live Arena opening delayed yet again

Another gig cancelled last night amid last minute safety concerns
5 days ago

National Grid unveils winners for £9bn network upgrade

New 'enterprise model' to deliver infrastructure schemes quicker and cheaper
6 days ago

Turkish insulation panel maker to build £45m UK factory

Assan Panel to open first UK plant at Freeport East
5 days ago

Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for Hydrock

Stantec UK business expands by a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-based engineer
6 days ago

Contractors wanted for £800m highways deal

Bids invited for Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4
5 days ago

Galliford Try names group head of infrastructure

David Lowery promoted to Divisional Managing Director – Infrastructure.
5 days ago

Chigwell Group looks at stock market listing

Essex contractor registers as Public Limited Company
6 days ago

A57 Mottram Bypass clears final legal challenge

Balfour Beatty to get go-ahead to start shortly
6 days ago

100 jobs axed as Geoffrey Osborne confirms administration

Chairman Andrew Osborne calls it a 'sad day' as board loses fight for survival
7 days ago

Midgard set for Notting Hill office tower overhaul

Landmark project edges towards final approval after 10-year planning saga
6 days ago

Cumbrian civils firm clinches £40m Sellafield contract

Civils specialist Stobbarts will support McAlpine on groundworks and concrete
6 days ago

Designers named for London 2000-bed student rooms job

Bouygues will build £400m London School of Economics student scheme next to Tate Modern
6 days ago

£117m-turnover contractor files administration notice

ARJ Construction lodges court notice
1 week ago

£1bn London Blackfriars tower blocks approved

Trio of buildings rising to 45, 40 and 22 storeys approved by Southwark Council
1 week ago

Council decides to end Balfour deal after 13 years

Contractor has been maintaining roads across Herefordshire since 2013
1 week ago

Contractor services