Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
UK Construction Directory
Search our 157,432 companies....

Construction News

26/02/2024

Major Engineering Work Complete At Sliding Canal Bridge In Keadby

Construction News Image
Network Rail has completed major engineering work at the UK's only sliding canal bridge in Keadby, near Scunthorpe.

Teams have worked around the clock since midnight on Saturday 17 February until the early hours of Monday 26 February to strengthen one of the canal’s walls and remove rails and track equipment that has been in place for many years, to install new replacements.

A 24.5 tonne pre-cast concrete slab has been installed on the canal’s north wall to strengthen it for years to come. To carry out this work, engineers had to drain part of the Stainforth and Keadby canal using a limpet dam, a structure positioned on the side of the canal wall which created a water-tight seal, meaning teams could carry out these vital repairs in a safe and dry environment.

On the bridge's deck, wooden beams which had old rails on top of them, have been replaced with metal supports. 200m of new rails covered in a special coating and painted white have been installed so that they absorb less heat in summer.
-- Advertisement --
hss



More than 100 engineers have been on site working on the project, which will deliver smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers and freight services on a more resilient railway.

The original bridge dates to the 1860s, before being converted into a sliding bridge in 1925. It connects Doncaster with Scunthorpe and the Lincolnshire coast and is one of the busiest routes for freight trains in the UK.

During the nine-day programme, engineers also worked at nearby Althorpe station. Teams have carried out work to the structure of the platforms and have started work to replace the station’s existing footbridge with a new one, installing a temporary structure to keep passengers connected to both platforms.

The 108-year-old footbridge will be replaced with a modern-style structure over the coming months, with the new bridge expected to open in April 2024.

Sean Ellerby, Scheme Project Manager for Network Rail, said: "The last nine days has seen an incredible amount of hard work from our teams as they carried out a large-scale programme of improvements to the sliding bridge, railway, and canal wall in Keadby.

"These vital upgrades will improve reliability and deliver smoother journeys for passenger and freight services for years to come, and by replacing old with new will result in less maintenance-related disruption.

"Carrying out this work over nine continuous days is more efficient and means less disruption to services than access on multiple weekends, and I would like to thank passengers and freight users for their patience and understanding while the work has been carried out."

Latest Construction News

02/07/2025
Construction is officially underway on the new Whitefield Community Fire Station, part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's (GMFRS) £38 million Estates Improvement Programme. Led by Robertson Construction North West, the project will replace the former fire station on Bury New Road with
02/07/2025
Hull City Council has officially appointed Esh Construction to lead a major repair and strengthening programme on Drypool Bridge, one of the city's key transport links. The project will be delivered in partnership with engineering consultancy Mason Clark Associates. Work will begin on the south s
02/07/2025
Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has announced record financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, marking its second consecutive year of historic growth. The company reported a turnover of £1.15 billion and a pre-tax profit of £90.5 million, completing more than 2,800 new homes a
02/07/2025
Women in Construction Anglia (WICA) and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce have voiced strong support for the government's new plans to increase the construction workforce by 100,000 people annually. The announcement follows the launch of the first Construction Skills Mission Board, attended by Work and P
02/07/2025
Huddersfield Station will undergo a significant upgrade this autumn as part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), with a full 30-day closure scheduled from Saturday 30 August to Sunday 28 September 2025. The closure represents a major milestone in the delivery of a faster, gr
02/07/2025
Procurement Hub, part of Places for People (PfP), has confirmed a two-year extension of its flagship Major Projects Framework 2 (MPF2), extending its term until 2028 after achieving more than £300 million in social value since its launch in 2022. Designed to deliver a more efficient, equitable, and
02/07/2025
Two Galliford Try employees have received commendations at this year's British Ex-Forces in Business Awards, recognising their outstanding contributions and leadership within the construction industry after transitioning from military service. Pam McNeill, Business Assurance Manager for Galliford T
02/07/2025
The government has announced a landmark £39 billion investment to deliver around 300,000 new social and affordable homes across the UK over the next decade, in a major bid to tackle the housing crisis and provide secure housing for families and children stuck in temporary accommodation. Under the n
02/07/2025
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is one of the most dangerous gases found in industrial environments. Colourless, highly toxic, and often referred to as the "silent killer", it's particularly hazardous because it can quickly deaden the sense of smell, giving workers a false sense of security. Even a
02/07/2025
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the Construction Leadership Council's (CLC) new Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy, describing it as a much-needed step toward driving change across the construction industry. FMB Chief Executive Brian Berry joined over 140 industry leaders at
Efco UK LtdAqua Direct LtdStuart CanvasLakeside HireWren Lodges3D Structural Detailing Services LimitedAcorn Joinery Services LtdChess Environmental LtdFloorwise Group LtdWirral Gas Limited