Our Projects

Hams Hall Bridge Deconstruction


Our Projects

Project Overview

Project Description

Hams Hall Bridge is over 70 years old and no longer used. Our client approached us to undertake this complex bridge removal and deconstruction, which not only required detailed strategic planning, but had to overcome numerous challenges.

The disused rail bridge consisted of two 14metre spans over the River Tame in a semi-rural location on the edge of a distribution park in Warwickshire.

Challenges

The timing of this project required extensive planning. Firstly, environmental surveys were needed to assess for the presence of badgers, bats, salmonoid, nesting birds and otters. We were then governed by the movements of local wildlife to ensure our works did not pose any threat; this was supplemented with continuous monitoring and protection of the wildlife and local ecosystems.

Access to the site was limited down a single-track road and initially a public footpath ran through the site. Access over the bridge was significantly restricted by the overhead HV cables reducing the operating height for plant down to 4.6m. There is also a fast running river beneath the bridge and neighbouring property to the side of the site meaning there was only one way on and off the bridge.

Innovation

We designed with our specialist engineers, Richter, a bespoke steel frame structure to sit above the bridge, supporting it and allowing safe removal of each section of bridge, all within the confines of the site.  The steel fabrication was built in the AR workshop by our team.

Methodology

Months of planning resulted in a well-executed phased programme of works:

  • Fabrication and in-house build of a steel structure to support the weight of the bridge during deconstruction of each section.
  • Installation of scaffolding to provide a working platform for the team, initially this scaffolding was on the bridge and then prior to bridge removal, this is tied into the steel fabrication, suspended from above.
  • The steel gantry was installed over the bridge.
  • The integrated remote pulley system within the steel fabrication allowed the bridge sections to be carefully lifted and transported back along the bridge to the edge of the site for cutting, segregating and recycling.
  • The inner sections of steel bridge were removed first, carefully cutting each section, secured to the gantry then lifted slowly up and back along the bridge.
  • The outer sections of the bridge were then removed to leave the safe working scaffold area suspended from our gantry system.
  • Once the bridge was removed, the gantry was dismantled section by section and its cranes were then used to pull each section back over the fabrication.

This project saw the successful collaboration of the full AR team along with partners within the supply chain to execute a complex deconstruction. This project is the epitome of what can be achieved in challenging conditions, whilst ensuring the safety of all stakeholders throughout.

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