Barton Bridge M60

Barton Bridge M60

Background

The huge steel platform forming the deck of the Salford vertical lifting bridge had fallen nearly 60 feet to the ground from its four supporting concrete towers, during the ongoing construction of a new dual carriageway. Vac-Ex were asked to provide one of our vacuum excavation units to aid in the removal of counterweights.

Job Description

The bridge had collapsed over shipping canal requiring steel punching counterweights removing from the tower.

Key Issues

The need to resume access for marine traffic along the relevant area of the canal as quickly as possible. The 500-tonne structure had collapsed from the 70 metre tall towers supporting the bridge, each needing the counterweight boxes inside clearing.

Solution

32t Mega Vac-Ex unit vacuum excavated out the steel punching inside the towers using extensions secured to the inside. Calculations were done so as to not over fill the unit with steel.

Conclusion

Vacuum Excavation of the four counterweights was successful allowing the towers to be demolished with ZERO strikes. There were no reported incidents in respect of service strikes.

Enquire Here