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Edited and written by Martin Cooper P80 A14 BRIDGES: ROAD, RIVER AND RAIL
 STRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION

STEEL
ON SHOW
The London School of Economics is
redeveloping its Central Building with an
exposed steel frame structure

S
ituated just south of Lincoln Inn Fields, and
just a short walk from the London School KEY FACT
of Economics’ (LSE’s) Academic Building,
the Central Building Redevelopment project
replaces four previous buildings that were 1,100t
demolished as they were deemed to be no Amount of
longer fit for purpose. structural
Once complete, the project will offer a slightly smaller steel used
gross internal floor area of 15,507m2 as the scheme also repeating architectural features.”
includes a new landscaped public square. Shear forces and torsional moments applied to the
A modern and stylish environment will be created RHS beams, in conjunction with the desire to avoid site
by leaving much of the new building’s steel frame welding, led to the bespoke hidden connection design.
largely exposed, a design that has required a number of The answer was for many of the steel members to have
bespoke steelwork elements in order to fulfil the project’s an internal bolted connection, hidden from view and
architectural vision. accessed via a hatch.
Another part of the architectural intent is to provide Having the steel frame and the ductwork exposed
a slimmed down floor construction, to maximise creates an aesthetic environment within the completed
available space. This design has been achieved by using building, and brings ventilation advantages.
rectangular hollow section (RHS) or plated floor beams, “Exposed steelwork supporting exposed precast
featuring bottom plates to support the building’s long flooring planks creates a flat soffit and contributes to the
span precast floor units, which sit within the depth of the building’s MEP strategy via the material’s high thermal
beams. mass qualities,” explains AKT II director Ricardo Baptista.
As exposed steelwork plays such an important role Overall, the building consists of two conjoined parts;
within the design, the fabrication process had to rise to the 13-storey Tower Block and the six-storey Houghton
the challenge accordingly. Block. At either end of the blocks, that sit side-by-side for
“Billington, our steelwork contractor, was tasked with just under half of their lengths, exposed square hollow
making sure that the majority of the steel connections section (SHS) bracings bookend the project and form
were hidden from view in accordance with the client’s another highly visible exposed steelwork element.
requirements,” says Mace project director Frank Connolly. This exo-skeleton bracing, which sits approximately
“Flush connections are the order of the day, or 300mm outside of the building envelope, is not just an
alternatively they have positioned end-plates to help aesthetic element, as it is a structural requirement, acting
create shadow gaps, which, in turn, are then used as with two concrete cores to provide stability.

72 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | J U LY 2 0 1 8

 “
Exposed steelwork
supporting exposed precast
flooring planks creates a flat soffit
and contributes to the building’s
MEP strategy

the overall build sequence.

“Due to the architecturally sensitive nature of the
exposed frame, we had to be mindful of the subsequent
impact of any of the connection points for the temporary
bracing, and so bolted cleats were used to negate the
need for any removal of welded plates,” he says.
The majority of the project’s steelwork begins at
ground floor level. But to form a large subterranean
auditorium, two large plate girders had to be installed
during the basement works programme.
“The basement level is predominantly formed with
concrete, although we did use steel plunge columns for
the foundations,” explains Connolly.
“This subterranean level will be used for plant rooms,
but it also houses the building’s 200-seater auditorium
and associated spaces, such as a bar, and this large
column-free area is formed by the two long plate girders.”
Encased in concrete and positioned at ground floor
level, the two girders measure 17m long by 1,600mm deep
and each one was brought to site in two pieces for ease
of transportation. The main steel frame has been erected
entirely by tower crane, but these girders had to be
installed using a 400t-capacity mobile crane.
The part of the basement containing the auditorium
does not lie beneath the new building, but instead it is
positioned in front of the structure and below a new
public square.
“Creating the square was integral to the overall scheme
and having the auditorium below it was the most efficient
position,” says Baptista.
Above: The steel
“Because of the girder’s position they are working
frame works with
PROJECT TEAM extremely hard as they are designed to carry heavy loads
the core to give from fire engines, in an emergency, and mobile cranes
Project: London School of Economics Central Building
the structure its required to replace rooftop plant.”
Redevelopment
stability Access to the auditorium is via the Tower Building’s
Main client: London School of Economics
Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners atrium, which accommodates a staircase to the lower
Main contractor: Mace level and its void is formed with exposed steel columns
Structural engineer: AKT II that start at basement level.
Steelwork contractor: Billington Structures The atrium also offers access to the Tower’s main
staircase, known as the meandering stair, as it moves
position by one bay at each floor.
Significant forces are transferred within and into the Formed with a lightweight prefabricated steel frame,
SHS bracing system and so bespoke cruciform node joints this staircase was lifted into position, piece by piece
were engineered with machined flush plates to ensure the along with the main steel frame. Its design is said to
correct standard of finish was achieved. mimic the movement within the square, as well as
The structure was only fully stable when the entire allowing better connectivity and collaboration between
frame was erected and all of the precast flooring was different departments on different floors.
installed. Until that point Billington had to install Summing up, Connolly says this is a complex and
temporary bracing to each floor, which was only removed challenging project on a confined inner city site,
once each level was fully complete. surrounded by businesses and the client’s other facilities.
According to Billington Structures managing Collaboration, such as having a visual mock-up of the
director Mark Smith, the temporary stability system steel frame on site to iron out any snags before the
was developed to largely ignore any benefit that the steelwork is delivered, has been the key to our success.
concrete cores may have offered, to allow flexibility in The LSE CBR opens in mid-2019.

J U LY 2 018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 73

 STRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION

FLEXIBLE
FRAME
Steel construction was chosen as the
most cost-effective solution for a new
hospital in Birmingham.

A
new flexible private hospital is taking
shape, quickly rising up on the site of the KEY FACT

“
now demolished BBC Pebble Mill studios,
in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The £21.5M facility, located in the heart
925t
Amount of
of what has been dubbed Edgbaston’s
Medical Quarter, is the latest addition to Circle Health’s
structural We have the ability to
steel used
portfolio which includes hospitals in Bath, Nottingham
and Reading.
double the size of the
Utilising a steel-framed design sat on a concrete initial phase, harnessing advanced
podium containing a car park, the hospital is based on an
expandable model which can be adapted and enlarged to construction techniques causing
minimal disruption
meet clinical demand.
The hospital is being constructed over two phases.
It will include three operating theatres – expandable to
five – an endoscopy procedure room, recovery gym, and
in-patient bedrooms. techniques causing minimal disruption. This future-
“This state-of-the-art hospital will bring to Birmingham proofing makes this hospital highly adaptable and cost
the high-quality care and excellent hospitality for which effective. This provides our client with a building, which
Circle Health is well-known, and is an important part of can be adaptable to their business plan as it evolves and
Circle’s strategy to add scale to the group,” says Circle responds to local demand throughout its lifetime.
Health chief executive Paolo Pieri. “The intention is “Our approach has meant that the future incorporation
also to add a significant number of beds for physical of rehabilitation services into the scheme is made
and neurological rehabilitation, along with the latest possible. It shows that it is essential to rethink healthcare
rehabilitation technology.” design, and there is a clear need to provide spaces to be
The key aspect of the architect’s design approach has continuously adaptable to the future needs of healthcare
been to create a form of “adaptive architecture”, giving requirements and technology. Circle Health successfully
the client the ability to adapt the building as its needs responds to these challenges,” he says.
change. Phase one amounted to some 550t of steel and 6,885m2
Bryden Wood director Paul O’Neill explains: “In of metal decking, supplied to steelwork contractor
this instance, we have the ability to double the size of Caunton Engineering by Composite Profiles. It was
the initial phase, harnessing advanced construction completed at the end March. Phase Two, which will

74 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | J U LY 2 0 1 8

 “
There is a clear need
to provide spaces to be
continuously adaptable to the
future needs of healthcare
requirements and technology

steelwork members.
The hospital consists of three blocks, with the main
building known as block C measuring 75m long by 32m
wide. Sat entirely on the concrete podium, this structure’s
steel grid pattern has been dictated by concrete columns
forming the car park below.
Its ground floor will accommodate the operating
theatres, recovery rooms and X-ray department. Also
included in the initial steelwork phase is a first-floor plant
area which has been erected and which covers just under
half of block C’s footprint.
To accommodate phase two, a number of transfer
beams have been included along the ground floor ceiling
to support the column grid change for a first-floor
rehabilitation gym that will cover the area adjacent to the
plant area.
Because of the need to have a larger column spacing
for the exercise equipment, the grid changes from a 7m
by 15m pattern to a 15m by 15m formation.
Phase two will also include a second floor for block
C, where the grid pattern will change yet again to
accommodate 60 patient bedrooms.
Attached to one end of block C, block B is 40m by
20m and will accommodate the hospital’s main public
areas, such as the main entrance and a ground floor
café/restaurant, with the first floor used entirely for
administrative offices. Also included in the first phase
is block B’s second floor, which will contain 24 patient
Above: The steel bedrooms.
superstructure has “There were a number of reasons for choosing a steel
PROJECT TEAM built in flexibility frame for the project,” says O’Neill. “The speed and ease
Project: Circle Health private hospital, for future of construction were two, as well as flexibility and the
Edgbaston, Birmingham expansion ability to secrete bracing around the structure. We also
Main client: Circle Health
have a 7.2m long cantilever along one of block B’s main
Architect: Bryden Wood
elevations and this would have been difficult to build in
Main contractor: Simons Group
anything other than steel.”
Structural engineer: Bryden Wood
As well as being a highly architectural part of block B’s
Steelwork contractor: Caunton Engineering
design, the cantilever also increases the floorplate for the
second-floor bedrooms. It will also carry on up to include
add another 375t of steel and a further 6,200m2 of metal a further floor to be added in phase two, while another –
decking began in May. fourth level – could even be added in the future.
“A second phase was always on the cards during “We had to work collaboratively with the engineer
the initial design, but it only became a reality once and the contractor to design and then work out the best
the construction programme got under way,” explains position for the temporary works, needed to support
Simons Group project manager Stuart Partlow. “It’s the cantilever during both phases of the construction
not necessarily ideal to have phase two steelwork programme,” explains Caunton Engineering contracts
being erected above areas that are already erected and manager Michael Firth.
occupied by other trades, but we will have a suitable Adjoining block B is block A, which measures 30m
logistical working plan in place.” by 15m. Used entirely for consulting rooms, this block
As far as the project’s phase one steelwork is will remain as a single-storey structure, although it has
concerned it has been designed to accept further been designed to be extended to the rear to add up to 10
phases. As well as having slightly larger members than additional consultation rooms, again exemplifying steel
would ordinarily be needed, Caunton has pre-welded a construction’s flexibility.
series of stubs to the top of the uppermost columns and Phase one of the project is due to complete by early
beams. This will allow the easy installation of phase two 2019.

J U LY 2 01 8 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 75

 STRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION

COME IN
NUMBER3
The third of three steel-framed office blocks in
Snowhill, Birmingham is rapidly taking shape.
Martin Cooper reports.

S
at next to its sister buildings, Three Snowhill Instead of two main cores, one for each tower, the new
is a 19-storey office tower that forms a scheme now has three concrete cores, which provide the
stunning gateway to Birmingham’s business KEY FACT stability for the single tower.
district, completing the final phase of Two of the cores, situated along the north elevation
Ballymore’s Snowhill Estate development. 4,500t have the functionality of one core but are structurally
Offering nearly 38,000m2 of Breeam Amount of independent. They are, however, linked together by
“Excellent”-rated Grade A office floor space, together with structural steelwork that forms a frame for scenic lifts and a large
retail and leisure units at podium and ground floor levels, steel used glazed façade.
the building sits above four levels of concrete basement Working on behalf of main contractor Bam
and podium substructure. Three Snowhill, like its sister Construction, Severfield has fabricated, supplied and
buildings, has a composite design comprising a steel erected 4,500t of steel for this project. All of the steelwork
frame with cellular beams supporting metal decking. has been erected via the site’s three tower cranes, as
As well as accommodating the office block’s services none of the elements exceeds 13t in weight.
within the structural void, the Fabsec cellular beams have Although the project sits on a busy inner-city area, it
proved to be a cost-efficient option to create 10.5m-long is well served with two material laydown areas running
internal spans. along two main elevations, which have allowed steelwork
This final plot of the Snowhill development has a long to be delivered on a regular daily basis.
and varied history. Initially twin residential and hotel While the city centre location has provided logistical
towers, both constructed with reinforced concrete challenges, Severfield worked very closely with the site
frames, were envisaged. In 2007 work began on this team to co-ordinate deliveries. Using its offload system
scheme and all of the basement and substructure works has been particularly useful, allowing two steel deliveries
had been completed when the job was halted a year later. to be unloaded at once despite the tight conditions on
Due to market conditions, a redesign was undertaken site.
and the project was resurrected as a solitary commercial The building wraps around a large central atrium,
block, which in turn led the team to choose a steel which allows plenty of natural light to penetrate the inner
framing solution. areas, as it is topped with a glazed roof. This glazing also
“A single tower on the site necessitated some spans the double-height upper floor, creating a large light-
substantial alterations to the substructure, most notably filled breakout space.
a much thicker raft to accommodate the different loads,” A series of steel circular hollow section (CHS) trees,
says WSP associate director James Bodicoat. “This meant each with two or three branches, along with CHS rafters
the five-storey basement became four storeys as the support the glazed roof on this upper level.
lowest level was in-filled.” Large parts of the building’s roof support plant areas,

76 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | J U LY 2 0 1 8

 “
Left: Cladding is
installed as the
Severfield’s design
PROJECT TEAM structure rises department has been key in
Right: Successive
Project: Three Snowhill, Birmingham floorplates increase developing solutions to issues such
Main client: Ballymore Properties
Architect: Weedon Architects
in size with each
storey as the hung steelwork on the south
Main contractor: Bam Construction
Structural engineer: WSP
east elevation
Steelwork contractor: Severfield

corner, where a portion of the building, extending

and in order to create a visual screen to hide from level three to eight, is suspended from three large
the equipment, two elevations have a 5m over sail. raking columns.
This high-level element is formed by a series of “Severfield’s design department has been key in
cantilevering trusses. developing solutions to issues such as the hung steelwork
Possibly the most standout features of the scheme on the south east elevation, which had to be temporarily
are the raking façades, which, as well as providing the propped before it was fully suspended,” says Bam senior
building with some architectural highlights, also help site manager Charlotte Owen.
the project to maximise the available floor space as the Summing up the benefits of the steel-framed design,
building’s floorplates gradually increase in size with each Owen adds: “The steelwork frame installation sequence
successive storey. has allowed us to maximise programme benefits for
The building’s north west and north east corners following trades. For example, the floorplates being split
both feature raking façades, formed by a series of CHS in to four areas allows us to concrete the floors in two
columns, founded at basement level on large 5m-high halves and then start installing the curtain walling, while
steel nodes. still ensuring exclusion zones are maintained for the
The nodes have bolted connections to raking steelwork erectors.
columns, which merge at the ground floor level, “By using steelwork, we have been able to
and to perpendicular perimeter columns. Weighing monitor progress closely and forecast key milestone
approximately 9t each, the nodes are connected to two or completion dates as the piece count is easy to
three columns, depending on their location. measure on a weekly basis.”
Another sloping façade is located on the south east Three Snowhill is due for completion by Spring 2019.

J U LY 2 018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 77

 STRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION

SPORTS
REPORT
A highly efficient and value-engineered steel-framed
sports hub will help the University of Warwick achieve
its ambitious physical activity targets.

D
ue for completion in March 2019, the a quicker steel erection programme. Including the metal
University of Warwick’s new sports hub KEY FACT decking installation and the remaining precast planks, the
will create one of the foremost sports work was completed in 13 weeks instead of the previously
facilities at a UK university – including estimated 18 weeks.
what is claimed to be the country’s largest 900t Overall the sports hub is one large steel frame, which
higher education gym facility. The project Amount of gains its stability from strategically-placed cross bracing,
aligns with the university’s ambition to be the “most structural and offers 14,000m2 of floor space.
physically active campus community in the UK by 2020”. steel used Two large open-plan areas dominate the building and
Replacing the current sports centre on the campus, are placed at either end of the 200m-long structure. At the
the hub will feature a 16-court sports hall, a 25m-long northern end of the structure the 16-court sports hall is
swimming pool with a moveable floor, fitness suites, a large column-free space reaching the full height of the
climbing and bouldering walls and flexible studio spaces, building. The hall is formed with a series of 11 spliced
as well as squash courts, outdoor 3G sports pitches and 40m-long by 2m-deep trusses, weighing 8t each.
netball courts. It will also be the official training ground The trusses are supported at one end by tubular raking
for Coventry’s Wasps Netball Superleague team. columns, that form the architectural feature façade for a
Cost is always a major factor in any construction viewing gallery.
scheme and this project is no different. Early in the “These raking columns are the middle portion of a
design phase Willmott Dixon engaged with the steelwork longer spliced column,” explains Hambleton Steel design
contractor Hambleton Steel to help with a value engineer Andrew Dobson. “At basement level, the column
engineering exercise. is vertical universal column section, it then changes to a
The project’s original design envisaged a steel frame raking section for the ground floor and then reverts back
supporting precast planks to form the building’s upper to a vertical member higher up.”
floors. Hambleton suggested changing this to a more cost- Another design innovation from Hambleton is a series
effective metal decking solution. of beams that cantilever out from the top of the sports
“We changed all the floors to metal decking with the hall’s roof and over the lower roof of the adjoining areas.
exception of the wet changing rooms and areas near to Willmott Dixon supported the scaffold for the cladding
the pool because of chlorine corrosion concerns,” says installation onto these sacrificial beams, which will be
Willmott Dixon construction manager Nick Preedy. removed when the cladding is complete.
“This meant we had to add extra beams to support “This helped speed up the installation of the
the decking as it couldn’t span as far as the planks, but scaffolding as it would have ordinarily been supported
overall we used less steel tonnage, as a lighter frame was from ground level. By using the beams the scaffold was
needed, which ultimately saved the client money.” erected more rapidly, which allowed us to get started
Another benefit resulting from this design change was on the cladding earlier, and meant we got the sports hall

78 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | J U LY 2 0 1 8

 “
Left: A feature
cantilever forms a
By using the beams the
PROJECT TEAM
sheltered terrace scaffold was erected more
for the café
Project: University of Warwick sports hub
Main client: University of Warwick
Right: Raking rapidly, which allowed us to get
columns form a
Architect: Space & Place feature façade started on the cladding earlier
Main contractor: Willmott Dixon
overlooking the
Structural engineer: Arup
sports hall
Steelwork contractor: Hambleton Steel Early in the construction programme Willmott Dixon
completed a cut and fill operation, removing 20,000m3 of
overburden to level the previously sloping site.
watertight earlier,” says Preedy. As well as internal exposed steelwork, some of
At the southern end of the hub there is an 8m-high the hub’s exterior steel will also be remain visible as
swimming pool hall, which is another large open column- architectural features.
free space. This zone is formed by a series of 30m-long Adjacent to the pool, a large cantilevering canopy,
glulam beams supported on steel columns. partially supported by raking circular hollow section
The columns in the pool area will be left exposed in columns, creates an outdoor terrace for the hub’s café.
the completed building, as will most of the sports hub’s At the opposite end of the hub, a similar canopy forms
steel frame. To this end, all of the project’s steelwork has the roof for the facility’s main entrance, again supported
been painted with a high-spec protective coating system by raking columns. These 273mm diameter columns also
to prevent corrosion from the potentially humid and extend along the exterior of the eastern elevation, joining
chlorinated conditions. the two canopies with a series of large W’s, evoking the
The sports hub’s other facilities occupy the large area name of the university.
between these two column-free zones, as well as running Most of the raking columns are not structurally
along the entire eastern elevation. In these parts the hub integral, but purely architectural. They are attached to
has three floors, a basement – mainly accommodating the elevation’s cantilevering roof and will be installed
changing rooms and offices – a ground floor with the when the cladding is complete.
main entrance, climbing wall and squash courts, wet Summing up, Willmott Dixon managing director for the
changing facilities and a café, and a first floor containing a Midlands Peter Owen says: “This is a fantastic project to
330-station gym and multi-purpose studios. be part of, creating cutting edge sporting facilities for the
Steel starts at basement level, where a large concrete community at University of Warwick, which will really
retaining wall forms this partially subterranean level. benefit its users.”

J U LY 2 018 | NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 79

 STRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN ACTION

ROAD RIVER
AND RAIL
A steelwork contractor’s expertise has enabled
challenging crossings to be erected safely, accurately
and on time for the A14 improvement scheme.

H “
ighways England’s £1.5bn A14 We decided that any
improvement scheme between Cambridge KEY FACT
and Huntingdon aims to relieve structure that was 40m or
longer would be built with steel
congestion, unlock economic growth,
improve safety and enhance the local
7,825t
Amount of
environment.
structural steel
The existing road is notoriously congested and suffers
used
from numerous delays as it is used by almost 85,000 cambered girders, each up to 34m long and weighing a
vehicles every day, far more than it was originally total of 1,400t.
designed to accommodate. Cleveland Bridge says the major challenge on this
The improvements include a new bypass to the south bridge was the curved and cambered nature of the
of Huntingdon, widening sections of the existing A14 and structure. It had to use advanced modelling software to
A1 trunk roads, new local access roads, and improved enable the manufacture of the girders for the deck, which
junctions. A total of 34 bridge structures will be required had a high skew and tight radius.
for the scheme, crossing roads, railways and waterways. The complex geometry meant the girders had to be
Working on behalf of the A14 Integrated Delivery Team, transported singly and then spliced and braced together
six of these structures are being fabricated, supplied and on site. To achieve the total bridge length of 80m, 10 lines
installed by Cleveland Bridge. of three girders, weighing up to 55t each, were used to span
Steelwork for two of these bridges – the A14 Brampton between abutments and piers.
Interchange Bridge and the East Coast Main Line Bridge Cleveland Bridge says it developed a jacking system on
– has been completed, while the viaduct over the River top of the piers, which allowed the girders to cantilever
Great Ouse is currently ongoing and due for completion out beyond the central pier. This enabled a whole line
by early August. The final three bridges will all be of supporting trestles to be removed from the scheme,
completed by early 2019 (see box). saving time for the client.
Commenting on the use of steel, A14 Integrated All of this work had to be completed to a very tight
Delivery Team construction director Jim McNicholas says: deadline around live A1 traffic management. Switching
“Prior to coming to site we carried out a value engineering the traffic from one carriageway to another was precisely
exercise, and from this we decided that any structure that scheduled, so bridge construction had to be completed
was 40m or longer would be built with steel.” on time so diverted traffic could run safely beneath the
Completed in January, the A1 Brampton Interchange new structure. The bridge over the A1 was completed on
Bridge is an 80m-long curved structure spanning the schedule within the tight programme timetable, ensuring
A1. The bridge was constructed from 30 curved and traffic could continue to flow throughout the works. The

80 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER | J U LY 2 0 1 8

 “
The biggest challenge for
the bridge was the short
possession periods during which
the bridge could be constructed

entire construction of this complex bridge was completed

in just nine weeks.
A different set of challenges was negotiated for the
40m-long bridge spanning the East Coast Main Line.
“The biggest challenge for the bridge was the short
possession periods during which the bridge could be
constructed,” says Cleveland Bridge project manager
Michael Whinn. “As one of the UK’s busiest rail arteries,
all construction work had to take place when no services
were running, and all work had to be programmed in
close partnership with Network Rail.”
The bridge comprised five pairs of 40m-long girders,
with each pair weighing 85t.
Initially the girders were to be installed over five
weekends. However, Cleveland Bridge says it was able to
complete the work in just three weekends, within 2am to
6am possession windows.
There was no room for error since any delay could
have seriously disrupted rail services for thousands of
passengers. Cleveland Bridge says it planned all works
in meticulous detail to ensure that the steel girders were
positioned well before the end of each possession window.
“This bridge was an exception and would have been
built with steel even if it was less than 40m-long,” explains
McNicholas. “Only by using steelwork with a slim profile
Above: The River could we achieve the required headroom for the railway,
Great Ouse while keeping the road at the necessary level.”
PROJECT TEAM Viaduct will be The project’s longest bridge structure is the 750m-long
Project: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement 750m long when River Great Ouse Viaduct, which is considered to be a
scheme complete showpiece element of the A14 project. The bridge spans
Main client: Highways England the river, plus a large area of floodplain on either side.
Delivery organisation: A14 Integrated Delivery Team This viaduct will require 6,000t of steel, comprising 76
Main contractor: Costain Skanska, Balfour Beatty joint separate main girders and 800 cross girders.
venture A time-saving construction method has been
Designer: Atkins and CH2M joint venture devised, which involves another subcontractor lifting
Steelwork contractor: Cleveland Bridge prefabricated concrete slabs onto the steelwork erected
by Cleveland Bridge, at the same time as steelwork
installation continues ahead of this activity.
A key feature of this method is the close tolerances
THREE MORE BRIDGES required between the deck slabs and supporting
steelwork. These require precise steelwork fabrication
Cleveland Bridge is fabricating and supplying three and installation, to ensure clashes between the slabs,
more bridges for the A14 scheme. These are the BN20 projecting reinforcement and the steel are avoided.
and BN21 Bar Hill Junction bridges and the BN27 Supported on 16 pairs of piers, most of the main girders
structure, which is also known as the A14/A1 link required for the bridge are up 40m long, 2m deep and weigh
overbridge. 50t. The section of bridge that crosses the river has a longer
70m span, requiring more complex girders, with larger,
The Bar Hill Junction comprises two identical 47.5m-long deeper haunches to carry the greater load.
bridges, to be constructed from six main girders each Cleveland Bridge says it suggested a different steel
weighing 55t. These are to be assembled on site, grade for these haunch girders, making them simpler to
before being manoeuvred into their final positions by fabricate. It is using a 600t capacity crawler crane, which
self-propelled mobile transporters over two successive can lift all components for each bay from one position on
weekends in September. Measuring 102.5m-long, BN27 both sides the river. This meant fewer crane movements
will be last of Cleveland Bridge’s six bridges to be erected were required, with no need to move the crane across the
in early 2019. Curved in plan and elevation, it will consist of bridge footprint – reducing site congestion and saving
nine pairs of girders measuring 29m, 34m and 39.5m long. time and money.
The A14 improvement is due to be completed in 2021.

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