GRAHAM have installed a new bridge across the River Chelmer for Chelmsford City Council in Essex, marking the first major milestone on the project.
The two single-span bowstring arches weighing 110 tonnes were lifted into position by a 500-tonne crawler crane with the aid of a 280-tonne super lift for counterbalance. The arches had been manufactured off-site in eight separate pieces, welded on location and fitted with stainless steel tensioning bars to allow them to maintain their shape.
The distinctive 50m pedestrian and road bridge is made from corten steel, which is a deep red colour, chosen to reflect the industrial history of the site.
Karl Lomas GRAHAM Project Manager said: “The successful installation of the arches marks an exciting and significant moment on the project, which is making good progress thanks to the team’s hard work and a successful collaboration between GRAHAM, Chelmsford City Council and engineers Buro Happold.
Now that work on the main span has been completed, the team will move onto the next stage of the build, continuing reinforced concrete works and finishing the bridge deck for completion next year.”
The new bridge and access road are being installed to provide access from Parkway to Chelmer Waterside, the city’s largest brownfield site. The new gateway to the Waterside neighbourhood is planned to improve essential access for vehicles and offer safe and scenic routes for cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge has also been designed so that boats can still navigate the River Chelmer.
Cllr Lynne Foster, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Chelmsford, says the new bridge is an exciting next step towards a new neighbourhood.
“It’s fantastic to see the new bridge starting to take shape, which will help take this site to a whole new level. 400 homes have already been completed here, but the infrastructure being delivered will begin a new phase for this underutilised part of the city, helping us to make the most of a unique area overlooking three waterways.
“Chelmsford needs new homes, and we must develop brownfield sites in sustainable locations wherever we can. These aren’t always the easiest sites to bring forward, but they are worth the effort, and key projects like the new bridge are essential to realising this potential.”
