92 CONSTRUCTION DESIGN The UK’s first stainless steel road bridge of its kind is expected to open for traffic in the coming weeks. ByTheSiobhan Doyle MeasureOf

CUMBRIA COUNTY Council announced the team, this three-layer structure will to finish,” says managing director Diane that its £5m project at Pooley Bridge in the straddle the River Eamont when it opens Bourne of Eric Wright Civil Engineering. will hit its key milestone this summer. They added that they sought “To ensure the welfare and safety of our soon, after work resumed on the bridge at to create a future-proof design: one which staff and contractors, we would ask that the end of April following a brief was flood resilient, which would comply everyone adheres to the restrictions put in suspension due to the coronavirus with Environment Agency regulations, place by County Council.” pandemic. The main span was built in and which could meet the wishes of local The town of Pooley Bridge is the north- sections off-site and then assembled next to people. eastern gateway into the the river. It will be lifted into place by a The stainless steel and concrete National Park, a Unesco World Heritage crawler crane. composite structure is unique – a Site with a uniquely beautiful landscape. Designed by Knight Architects in combination of durable and light material The original Pooley Bridge was a Grade collaboration with contractor Eric Wright with environmental benefits, the team II-listed three-span stone arch, built in Civil Engineering, and engineering explained. In comparison to ordinary steel, 1764, which served as a critical link in the consultancy firms Mott MacDonald and the stainless alternative is two and a half daily life of the area. GHD, the bridge has been planned since the times more expensive but its light weight The new Pooley Bridge will be the first original three-span 18th-century stone and longer durability gives it an advantage. stainless steel road bridge of its kind in the arch bridge collapsed after Storm Desmond “To ensure stakeholders and residents country. It was scheduled to be completed hit Cumbria in December 2015. Since then, of Pooley Bridge are able to appreciate and and the bridge opened in June 2020. a temporary bridge has been in place. comprehend the complexity of this major However, the temporary suspension of The new bridge is a stainless steel milestone, we have commissioned a drone works means the timescale for completion concrete composite structure. According to photographer to capture the lift from start of the project is subject to change. 7.5m - 9.5m Width of bridge (variation) 2 pavements and a single road lane m 40Length of bridge t 1,200crane anticipated to lift and place bridge

KNIGHT ARCHITECTS over River Eamont

Engineering & Technology June 2020 www.EandTmagazine.com 93 m m Cost of project £123.6of emergency funding to the area’s Infrastructure Recovery Programme (IRP) £5 granted by Cumbria County Council 1764 Year original bridge was built 2015Storm Desmond in December 2year project .5

-span 318th-century stone arch bridge collapsed in storm. One of more than 700 bridges in Cumbria to be damaged.

3layer structure

450Weight t

www.EandTmagazine.com June 2020 Engineering & Technology