Over a 4 month period, works were undertaken to perform a full bridge reconstruction to Killingworth Road Bridge on the Metro line in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Killingworth Road Bridge was a 150 year old, 9m skewed span, wrought iron underbridge with railway fixed to long timbers.
Story Contracting were engaged by Nexus, Tyne and Wear Metro operator, to replace the life expired bridge as part of a £5.5 million scheme.
The span and abutments of the life expired structure were completely removed and replaced with a pair of steel U-decks with an increased span of 21m to allow the road below to be widened by Newcastle City Council.
50
pre-cast concrete units
700m3
in-situ concrete
The work involved the design and build of the following works:
• Assemble new precast concrete cill units and steel U-decks in the compound
• Remove the overhead line equipment and track
• Drive out old bridge span using Self Propelled Modular Transport (SPMT)
• Demolish abutments
• Install sheet pile embankment retention
• Excavate and pour concrete foundations
• Position pre-cast concrete base and abutment units
• Drive in the new bridge span with SPMT
• Install bottom ballast and overhead line equipment
As both principal contractor and designer, we developed an alternative tender solution that maximised off site fabrication.
We agreed a Section 61 construction noise notice with Newcastle City Council and programmed the works so that the majority of noisy activities happened during the day. To keep local residents and commuters updated, the project team created public information boards and provided the council with regular video updates for social media.
As part of the bridge replacement, we were required to remove 150-year-old ornate parapets from the existing bridge structure. They were then donated to the local Stephenson Railway Museum where they will be cleaned, refurbished and installed on an existing platform which is set up at the museum.
This was a highly organised and safe site. There are many ways to impress a client as I’m sure you are only too well aware. There is however one very key element that in my opinion sets Story Contracting above the rest: Your employees.
Network Rail
VolkerRail/Story joint venture were tasked with the £80m project as part of a £137m investment that saw the undertaking of extensive enhancement works to remove several bottlenecks along the route to improve reliability, increase passenger services and aid in freight movements.