FP McCann have successfully completed the demolition and replacement of one of Translink’s Minor Bridge structures, located on the edge of Belfast Lough between Carrickfergus and Whitehead, close to the Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Co.
As part of Translink’s structural inspection and examination regime, a number of structures were identified to be in a deteriorated state requiring repair or replacement. FP McCann were appointed under the Minor Bridge Works Programme Phase 1, to repair and/or replace 3no. of these structures.
One of the existing minor bridge/ culvert structures to be replaced comprised of a single span brick masonry arch constructed upon masonry stone abutments. This structure had then been extended during its lifetime with precast concrete OGEE pipes on the upstream end. At the outfall, the flow discharged from the structure outlet through the rock armour revetment on the shore of Belfast Lough by means of a plastic sewer pipe.
FP McCann successfully completed the following steps during a 29 hour blockade of the railway:
• The removal of railway Sleepers for later re-installation
• The installation of a cable protection beam to support and facilitate the span of existing signalling cable infrastructure across the open trench during the culvert replacement
• The removal of the existing inlet concrete pipe
• The demolition of the existing masonry arch culvert structure including removal of all debris from the site by transfer of the material along the rail corridor by means of Road Rail Vehicles (RRV’s)
• The supply and Installation of a new 600mm dia. weholite pipe
• The supply and backfill of the trench with engineered fill
• The reconstruction of the affected P-Way elements i.e., the installation of ballast, reinstallation of the railway sleepers including new rail pads, clips, insulators, and tamping of the line to the pre surveyed and recorded vertical and horizontal alignments
• The provision of rail hand back of the track by use of a Level 3 Track Handback Engineer at line speed (50mph).
On preceding shifts to the Rail Blockade, FP McCann completed:
• Site Clearance including de-vegetation
• Design, Manufacture, and supply of a bespoke modular precast concrete inlet structure
• Installation of the bespoke inlet structure
• Installation of a 1.5m dia. precast concrete access/maintenance chamber
• Local regrading of the upstream embankments
• In conjunction with the hand back engineer completed a survey of both railway lines 30m either side of the proposed culvert
• Prepared a track monitoring plan for the hand back of the railway following completion of the blockade.
Following the Blockade, FP McCann completed:
• Design, Manufacture, and supply of a bespoke precast concrete modular outlet headwall structure
• Installation of the bespoke outlet headwall structure
• Supply/replacement of rock armour around the outlet to the affected revetment
• 7 days continuous monitoring of the rail lines following the culvert installation by the Hand Back Engineer and his rail competent team along with re-tamping of the track as required.
For further information on FP McCann’s ready mix concrete, contact the sales team at any of our depots:
- Armagh – 028 3755 1126
- Kilrea – 028 2954 0285
- Knockloughrim – 028 7964 2558
- Lisnaskea – 028 6772 1286
- Larne – 028 2826 0824
- Mallusk – 028 9083 0005
Existing Culvert Inlet
Existing Culvert Outlet
Completed Inlet Structure
Completed Inlet Structure
Completed Inlet Structure
Completed Outlet Structure
Completed Outlet Structure
Precast Concrete Modular Headwall trial construction following casting
2 piece Precast Concrete Inlet structure following casting