Work on the £19.5m Zouch Bridge replacement has reached a key milestone with the successful ‘launch’ of steel beams across the River Soar.
Engineers winched the beams 36 metres into place using a specialist jacking system, avoiding the need for cranes due to nearby high-voltage cables.
Leicestershire County Council is replacing the deteriorating existing bridge on the A6006, a key trade and transport route linking Hathern and Zouch on the Leics / Notts border.
The new bridge is being built by specialist contractors Eric Wright Civil Engineering. The launch of the steels is the second to take place – the first happened in August.
“I had the opportunity to visit the site recently and it’s been fascinating to understand how this bridge is being constructed.
“The presence of the overhead wires means the steels cannot just be craned in so they have to be launched, essentially carefully shunted, into place. It’s a complex procedure that requires a lot of precision and care.
“The A6006 is a key route that includes links to the airport and Freeport developments so we have done our best to keep disruption to a minimum and build the new bridge alongside the old one, rather than in the same place.
“We’d like to thank everyone for bearing with us while we complete this scheme.”
Person:Councillor Charles Whitford, lead member for highways and transport
More on the Zouch Bridge project