THE National Highways team upgrading junction 28 of the M25 in Essex has successfully installed the final set of bridge beams as part of the project, without the need for road closures.
The complex operation saw six steel girders lifted into place in pairs for Duckwood Bridge, using a mega 1000-tonne crane. This operation entails bolting together smaller beams mid-air before lifting the completed beams onto the structure.
This is the largest beam lift for the project, requiring the biggest capacity crane, as Duckwood Bridge measures an impressive 56 metres in length and 16 metres in width.
The finished beams, weighing 113 tonnes, were then craned onto concrete supports, known as abutments.
Zach Pepper, National Highways Project Manager said:
“Completing the final beam lift for the structures in the scheme is a significant milestone and a testament to the hard work of everyone on-site. This was completed all without the need for a full road closure, limiting the impact on the local community.”
With the last beams installed, the team is working towards completing the remaining structural concrete works by Autumn 2024, ahead of scheme completion next year.
Hugh McNally, GRAHAM Project Manager said:
“The installation of the Duckwood Bridge beams marks a fantastic achievement on the scheme, made possible by the team’s technical expertise and continuous dedication. With the last set of bridge beams now installed on the project, we work towards completion of the remaining structural concrete works in Autumn 2024”.
Duckwood Bridge is a key part of our improvements to upgrade this busy junction between the M25 and the A12 in Essex. When completed it will carry the new A12 anti-clockwise loop road, over the existing Weald Brook watercourse.
To find out more about the scheme, visit National Highways webpage here
