The complex operation saw six steel girders lifted into place in pairs, using a 1000-tonne capacity crane. This operation entailed bolting together smaller beams mid-air before lifting the completed beams onto the structure.
This was the largest beam lift for the project, requiring the biggest capacity crane, as Duckwood Bridge measures an impressive 56 metres in length and 16 metres in width. In total an impressive length between the reinforced concrete abutments, made up of 39.347 long girder and 16.197 short girder, spliced together on trestles and jacks.
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The finished beams, which weigh up to 113 tonnes, were then craned onto concrete supports, known as abutments.
Duckwood Bridge is a key part of our improvements to upgrade this busy junction between the M25 and the A12 in Essex. When completed it will carry the new A12 anti-clockwise loop road, over the existing Weald Brook watercourse.
Hugh McNally, GRAHAM Project Manager said: "The installation of the Duckwood Bridge beams marks a fantastic achievement on the scheme, made possible by the team's technical expertise and continuous dedication. With the last set of bridge beams now installed on the project, we work towards completion of the remaining structural concrete works in Autumn 2024".
Zach Pepper, National Highways Project Manager said: "Completing the final beam lift for the structures in the scheme is a significant milestone and a testament to the hard work of everyone on-site. This was completed all offline without the need for a full road closure, limiting the impact on the local community."
