FP McCann’s FlexiArch System Used in Repair of Greater Manchester Bridge

Project: Jubilee Bridge Refurbishment, Ashton, Tameside, Greater Manchester.

Client: Tameside Council

Main Contractor: AE Yates

Consultant Engineers: Wilde

Products Supplied: 14 Precast Concrete FlexiArch Units with 7.4m span.

The FlexiArch System was used to strengthen Tameside’s 88-year-old Jubilee bridge, named to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V. The bridge had been weakened by extensive steel reinforcement corrosion and spalling concrete before engineers from Tameside Council took action to solve the problem.

14 FlexiArch units were slid into place beneath the bridge. The 7.4m span flexible precast concrete arch ring units were manufactured in our Toomebridge depot and shipped to site in four deliveries over two days.

The arch rings arrived on site as a flat strip and were then constructed as a series of tapered precast concrete units, linked on their upper face by a bonded flexible membrane allowing the arch to be formed as it is lifted from the transporter.

Each Arch ring was craned into position onto the laterally extended cast insitu cill beams, to which grease was applied. They were then slid beneath the bridge structure using a pair of hydraulic jacks.

They were moved to the far end of the old bridge, until all 14 arch rings were installed- a process that took 36 hours.

“The application of sprayed concrete to the bridge deck soffit in 1974 has made it far more difficult to assess the full extent of the problem. Wilde consulting engineers suggested using the FlexiArch System to provide the best value for money solution,” Peter Robinson, Executive Member for Transport and Development, Tameside Council.

Wilde considered five options, including demolishing and rebuilding the reinforced concrete bridge deck, before coming up with the flexiarch solution. The bridge has cost £ 420,000 to repair and now has a design life of 120 years.

For further information on FP McCann’s Precast Bridge Solutions, contact the team at TOOMEBRIDGE 028 7965 0471 or email sales@fpmccann.co.uk