The Institution of Civil Engineers North West has thrown its weight behind plans to secure the long term future of an arterial Cheshire road route as part of its hard hitting ‘State of the Nation’ assessment of the region’s infrastructure.
The 100 year-old Sutton Weaver bridge carries the A56 trunk road over the River Weaver, linking the bustling north Cheshire hub towns of Helsby, Frodsham and Northwich with Chester and Merseyside beyond.
The bridge, which swings open to provide access for vessels travelling along the Weaver Navigation now requires a large scale repair programme to restore its integrity and secure its future. Movement within the ageing bridge structure has undermined the road decking and a lasting solution has proved difficult to find.
ICE North West Regional Director Alan Butler says significant progress has already been made in finding a long term solution to what has been a tough technological challenge.
“British Waterways and Cheshire West & Chester Council have already made significant progress in their efforts to secure the long term future of Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge by reducing the number of repair options from 14 to just four,” said Mr Butler.
ICE North West supports the view that the main objective is to devise a repair that will ensure road surfacing and bridge repair are compatible – and that a gradual approach will ultimately pay dividends.
“By working through the full range of options and testing them on site, engineers are eliminating those which are unfeasible in terms of cost or durability. Selecting the best of four robust options will require a significant level of detailed study,” said Mr Butler.
British Waterways Principal Engineer Mark Durham said the project represents a complex marriage of technologies. “By involving the contractor in design and planning phases, we can ensure all the options are fully explored and that the one selected is based on its widest proven viability,” he said.
During recent road closures for essential safety related repairs, engineers took the opportunity to test bed a range of surfacing repair techniques and examine the deck in detail at various locations – a cost effective way of ensuring the optimum long term design.
“The principal goal is to produce a methodology that will ensure road surfacing and bridge repair are compatible. This will deliver a long term solution to what has been an enduring problem, both for the community of Sutton Weaver and motorists alike” said Mr Durham.