Video: demolition and construction of £6.4M Merafield Bridge scheme

A new video has been released, which shows over 11 months, the construction and demolition for £6.4M Merafield Bridge scheme.

A dramatic two and a half minute film has been released by Highways England, which shows work on the Merafield Bridge scheme at Plympton, over 11 months.

The whole scheme was captured on timelapse and real time video as well as drone cameras when the old bridge was demolished.

The scheme was cleverly designed to keep disruption to a minimum, by constructing the first bridge for use before the demolition of the old one.

The video captures the entire 11 months, which includes the progress on site as the new structure is built and opened, followed by the fitting of 50kgs of explosive charges to the old bridge to blow it up.

The footage also captures the clean-up operation following the demolition, which resulted in 100% of the old materials being recycled and sent for use on construction projects across the South West.  In total, 139 tonnes of metal and 2000 tonnes of rubble was removed

South West Regional Director, Andrew Page-Dove said: “This video really shows how much work went into planning and executing this significant bridge scheme and we are very proud of what we have been able to achieve for drivers and the local community.

“The recycling record of the project is also impressive and it’s great to think that waste from the old Merafield Bridge will now being used in the construction of new buildings and structures all over Devon and Cornwall.”

Around 3000 tonne of crushed recycled aggregate was also brought to site to form a ‘crash deck’ to protect the trunk road as the old bridge dropped on to it. This aggregate was also taken away for reuse afterwards.

The old bridge needed replacing due to suffering from alkali silica reaction, which in time would lead to the structure becoming unsafe.

 

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here

The post Video: demolition and construction of £6.4M Merafield Bridge scheme appeared first on UK Construction Online.