Client: Lambton Estates
Location: Chester-le-Street
Contract Value: £0.08 million
Contract Period: September 2010 until October 2010
The works undertaken for Lambton Estates comprised the underpinning of an existing bridge abutment.
Lamb Bridge is a masonry arch bridge spanning over the River Wear, built in 1819. Investigations by Structural Engineers dating back to 1991 confirmed distortion of the arch as a result of mining subsidence. Further investigations in 2010 revealed more movement and a scour below the right hand abutment.
Scope of works:
- Fill abutment scour with concrete
- Rebuild upstream abutment wing wall
- Repair downstream abutment steps & wing wall
- Gain consent from the Environment Agency to work in the water course
Temporary steps were constructed to allow safe access in to the river.
L&C contracted divers to aid with filling the scour under the abutment. All materials were lifted to the river bed using a crane sited off the bridge, due to no vehicles being allowed to cross the bridge. Concrete was poured underwater totally enclosed in a membrane.
Scaffold decks were installed in the river to eliminate any risk of falling from height whilst repairing the masonry wing walls and steps.
During these works tide tables were consulted to maximise low water level working.
All works were completed within a tight time frame, as the grounds surrounding the bridge are used for game bird shooting.
