GRP bridge cuts traffic disruption

GRP bridge cuts traffic disruption Flint

ST

planning to construction three-way

is

also

GRP in the an unusual

bridge in Lancashire,

the

GLASS

plastic recently bridge

closures

reinforced

in Cornwall,

keep the

weight

enable

of the

place

crane

“Concrete

hoped

steel requires

regular

says David

a one-

Cooper

road.

rapid

to

The Halgavor Bridge spans 47 m, is 3.5 m wide and carries

longevity better quality concrete.”

cyclists,

of a busy

pedestrians

not

always

it would

“The

closure

in the future.

has

Neill.

day

installation

and for painting

once

and to lift

during

both

proved to be the zero maintenance material that engineers

struc-

to just 7 tonnes

a mobile

into

UK, helped

for

main

painting,” of Flint

GRP bridge

erect

A vinyl

and horses

be, and

as steel, than

ester

and

was

chosen

ST

to produce

will be used tapering

span the confluence of two rivers to provide a crossing for

joined together. The entire GRP structure is expected to

pedestrians.

Each

leg

weigh

bridge

have

a

will

an overall

of

the

span

of

rise of

case, the designers GRP because the

and

Neil1 Partnership

tion,

maintenance.

Eyre, and Balfour

in association Wilkinson

was constructed

Beatty. Vosper

by

Thorny-

croft fabricated the GRP deck, which is a sandwich construc-

methods

gel-coat a

in order

to avoid

costly

road

access

for construction

equip-

ment.

The area is also prone

flooding wanted

requirements

formwork

REINFORCEDplastics

structure

perof

was

virtually

flintneill.co.uk; flintneill.co.uk.

consistency

added

to

create

maintenance-free

Impression of the Ribble Way footbridge.

deck.

J un e 2 0 0 1

a non-slip

top

Way footbridge at

the

planning

David Cooper, Flint & Neil/;

were made by hand

to provide

place

tel: +44-20-7227- 1950; fax: +44-

for

RES No.304 - USE THE FAST NEW ENQUIRY SERVICE

4

the

9 tonnes into

stage with construction due to be complete in Spring 2002.

20-7227-1951;

down.

GRP will provide manent

to

and the designers to keep maintenance

The Ribble is currently

and a very high fibre content. Reichhold’s NORPOL Extreme

al

materials

low

difficult

lay-up, and flat panels were fabricated using resin infusion

tion made up of three sections. GRP was chosen over traditionbridge-building

and

Side chords

with

be lifted

crete to provide

E-glass

quick installa-

architects

location

approximately will

surface.

with

design flexibility,

with

rural

legs that can be

using a helicopter. Once in place, it will be filled with con-

good

composite

be

three

is as

across a dual carriageway. It was designed by engineer Flint ST

will

tions

In this opted for

(GRP) decking on a installed suspension

ture down it

fibre

which

Flat panels edge sec-

bridge will be built in a remote THE

bridge,

assembled off-site. and standard-shaped

UK. The Ribble Way bridge will

43.5 m with 8.5 m. Halgavor Bridge, Cornwall, UK.

Neil1 use of

@ www.reinforcedplastic.com

e-mail: website:

lotulon@ www.