A13 WIDENING

PROJECT A13 Widening - 3 bridges CLIENT Council MAIN CONTRACTOR Kier ENGINEER Atkins clevelandbridge.com Three bridges installed ahead of schedule over three weekends to keep A13 widening scheme on track.

Requirement

Thurrock Council needed to widen the A13 from two to three lanes in both directions between the A128 (Orsett Cock roundabout) and the A1014 (The Manorway, Stanford-le- Hope) in . The widened section would create a continuous three- lane road in both directions between the M25 and Stanford-le-Hope. By improving the A13, hopes to boost the local economy, helping businesses to increase productivity and create more jobs. As part of the road widening work, four existing bridges along the A13 needed to be replaced.

Solution

Cleveland Bridge was chosen to At the Orsett Cock junction the All three bridges were installed using manufacture and install three of new bridges would be built and a 1,000-tonne mobile crane on three the replacement bridges along the opened before the old bridges were consecutive weekends, during limited widened section of the A13. The demolished. closures of the A13. The installations steel construction specialist was were carried out in compliance with chosen for its size and scale, and Covid-19 safety measures prescribed its ability to trial erect large rigid Project scope by the Construction Leadership structures at its manufacturing Council. Mitigation measures plant - ultimately saving time and included social distancing, face Cleveland Bridge was responsible resources on site. coverings and restricted exposure for manufacturing, supplying and times, to ensure the health and installing the three steel bridges, The three bridges were: wellbeing of the workforce. working in partnership with main • A farm access bridge at Saffron contractor, Kier. The size of the Gardens, measuring 49m long and Saffron Gardens girders meant that weighing 230 tonnes the assembly had to take place in • Two bridges at Orsett required to our external designated assembly form a new roundabout. Known as area. Assembling the girders at Orsett East and Orsett West, these CBUK works eliminated the need for each measured 40m long and additional temporary works on site, weighed 160 tonnes. reducing the extent of groundworks required and therefore cutting time and cost from the project.

Creating landmarks worldwide clevelandbridge.com Challenges

Both Orsett bridges comprised six main girders, configured as three pairs (6 part length pairs) connected by a central diaphragm. The central longer girder pair had diaphragms cantilevering from each side, giving the structure a total width of 6m. That meant it was too wide to be sent to site as a pair, so Cleveland Bridge delivered the central girders individually and bolted them together on site.

Due to limited working space around the Orsett junction, and since the road here was still carrying live traffic, only the central girders were delivered in advance of installation. “Completing three major The other five pairs were delivered on a just in time basis (in sequence) and Outcomes bridge installations lifted into position directly from the over three consecutive back of the transport vehicle. All bridges were completed weekends was no mean The size of the Saffron Gardens on schedule within the route bridge posed considerable logistical possession period, despite feat, and required close problems in getting the girders to the Covid-19 site restrictions. coordination between site. They measured 49m long and Both Orsett bridges were Cleveland Bridge and weighed 100 tonnes, with a travelling installed within just 24 hours. height of 5m. This meant the driver On the first weekend, Orsett all parties involved. The had to use trailer hydraulics to adjust West was handed back scale of the company the overall load height at locations to the main contractor on meant it had the resources with restrictions such as bridges the Saturday night. On the along the route to enable the load to following weekend, Orsett to manage such a pass underneath. East was handed over on challenging workload. We Sunday morning. The Saffron Gardens installation was were impressed with the also completed ahead of the efficiency of the installation road reopening deadline. works, which enabled us This meant that on all three weekends, the road was clear to hand back the road for to be reopened early, reducing reopening earlier than disruption to road users. planned on each weekend.”

Tsvet Spasov Senior Engineer, Kier

Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd. T. +44 (0) 1325 381188 Cleveland House, Yarm Road, F. +44 (0) 1325 382320 Darlington, Co. Durham DL1 4DE, UK E. [email protected] clevelandbridge.com