Work to remove steel beams on Bradford on Avon railway bridge …
The operation was abandoned on Saturday after engineers were unable to use the crane to lift out the rusting steelwork of the existing structure.
They hired in a 130-tonne crane from Ainscough Crane Hire Ltd but were forced to abandon Saturday night’s operation.
They didn’t have the huge plates they needed to stabilise the crane's legs which meant the work could not go ahead as planned.
The 130-tonne crane that was brought in on Saturday night but unused returns arriving at 9 pm. Photo: Trevor Porter 69872-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)
It was rescheduled for Wednesday, where eyewitness said: “I arrived at about 9pm and the huge plates to support the crane legs were already there.
“They used the same huge crane that was there on Saturday night when the operation was abandoned.
“Demolition experts from Pennys Group in Radstock removed some of the huge steel beams of the existing bridge using cutting torches.
Demolition specialists use cutting torches to separate the steel structure. Photo: Trevor Porter 69872-5 (Image: Trevor Porter)
“These were then craned away. During the operation, the whole area around the bridge was illuminated and there were lots of engineers and safety staff present.
“No rail traffic came through. It had all been stopped. There were no spectators and the operation ended about 2am.”
The Network Rail Infrastructure contractors are due to come back again on Saturday, June 24 and then again on Saturday, July 1.
The work to replace the bridge in St Margaret’s Street is already four months behind schedule because of industrial action by railway workers and extreme cold weather during last winter.
Network Rail Infrastructure had hoped to complete the work in April after starting the project last September but it is now not expected to be completed before August.
The road has been closed since September and there is a partial closure of the Public Right of Way in St Margaret’s Place next to the bridge.
Network Rail says this will help to maintain access for residents.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The bridge is life-expired and in a very poor condition which cannot be economically repaired.
“The least disruptive solution is to deconstruct the original bridge, maintain the existing abutments and construct a new bridge in its place.
“This will prevent the bridge from being involuntary weight restricted or closed, it will also provide a major maintenance-free period for at least 25 years.”