FACT FILE
Architect:
Nicoll Russell
Studios
Structural
engineer: Jacobs
Steelwork
contractor:
S H Structures Ltd
Main contractor:
Balfour Beatty
Client:
Telford & Wrekin
Council
NSC
October 19 33
Telford Central Footbridges
Replacing an older structure that had reached the
end of its working life, Telford’s Central Footbridge
replacement scheme provides a new and important
link between the railway station and town centre.
© Stuart Brown
M E R I T SSDA 2019
Two steel arched structures with
an underslung suspended deck
connected by a central hub provide
a new and improved link between
Telford railway station and the town centre.
Previously the route, which crosses both
railway lines and a road, had been served by
a single span steel truss structure, but this
bridge had reached the end of its working
life and was too costly to maintain.
The use of steel as a structural solution
for the new structures was recognised early
in the design stage as the material has an
efficient span-to-weight ratio and it benefits
from safer, cost-effective offsite construction
techniques.
The selected cranked alignment, parallel
to the existing link, enabled the new bridge
to be built while maintaining the use of
the existing structure, thereby causing the
minimum amount of disruption to its users.
The new structures are both based
on a single-span lenticular space truss
roof, fabricated from steel circular hollow
sections. The railway structure is 27m-long
and the larger highway structure is
90m-long.
The steel decks are supported from the
truss system on hangers. For the larger
bridge, the deck also acts together with the
roof truss and raking end members to create
a tied arch supported on piled concrete
abutments, faced with blockwork.
A brickwork clad steel structure connects
the two bridges.
“Coordinating the multiple interfaces
between the various materials used on the
structures was a significant challenge. The
bridges feature a primary tubular steel arch
structure with a tensile fabric roof, a GRP
soffit and glazed sides, all of which had
to fit to exacting tolerances,” explains S H
Structures Sales Director Tim Burton.
Installing the structures on this busy and
constrained site was a major challenge.
The Balfour Beatty team worked closely
with the client and other agencies to develop
a suitable logistics plan. Assembly areas
were established adjacent to the railway and
Rampart Way where the two substantially
prefabricated bridges were erected on
bespoke temporary works.
The smaller railway span was successfully
installed during an overnight road and rail
closure in July 2018. The client and main
contractor promoted the project in the local
press and via social media and this resulted
in a large crowd gathering to watch the
spectacular installation of the larger road
span. This structure was successfully lifted
into place on 17th September 2018.
“Lifting the larger 90m span bridge into
place during a limited night-time operation
was a challenge which required meticulous
planning and attention to detail to ensure
the structure was installed safely and within
the allotted time slot,” says Mr Burton.
Summing up, the judges say these
new footbridges provide a modern sleek
welcome to visitors arriving from the
railway station. Crossing busy roads and a
railway line on a tight site presented major
challenges, but disruption was kept to a
minimum and the judges were impressed
with the team’s efforts to engage and involve
the public, resulting in a proud sense of
ownership by the local community.
/Design_of_steel_footbridges#Trusses and Vierendeel girder bridges
/Bridges_-_initial_design
/Design_for_steel_bridge_construction#Fabricating_the_steelwork
/Fabrication
/Tied-arch_bridges#Hangers
/Tied-arch_bridges
/Bridges
/Accuracy_of_steel_fabrication#Fabrication_tolerances
/Design_for_steel_bridge_construction#Bridge_erection
/Design_of_steel_footbridges
/Sustainable_steel_bridges#Minimum_impact