Good progress being made on Lancaster bridge repairs

Work on Greyhound Bridge in Lancaster is on schedule, according to engineers.
Greyhound Bridge under construction. Photo taken in April 2018 by Chris Coleman/AE Yates LtdGreyhound Bridge under construction. Photo taken in April 2018 by Chris Coleman/AE Yates Ltd
Greyhound Bridge under construction. Photo taken in April 2018 by Chris Coleman/AE Yates Ltd

The work, which begand at the end of January, is due to last for six months, during which time Skerton Bridge and the surrounding area has changed to two-way traffic.

Lancashire County Council is undertaking the refurbishment to maintain the capacity of the bridge and to prevent the implementation of restrictions to abnormal loads and HGVs.

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Harald Nielsen, principal bridges engineer, said: “We’re making good progress with the repairs and are currently on schedule.

Greyhound Bridge under construction. Photo taken in April 2018 by Chris Coleman/AE Yates LtdGreyhound Bridge under construction. Photo taken in April 2018 by Chris Coleman/AE Yates Ltd
Greyhound Bridge under construction. Photo taken in April 2018 by Chris Coleman/AE Yates Ltd

“Work so far has focused on putting up scaffolding and debris netting to allow the removal of concrete around the bridge joints which need to be replaced, and removing the concrete using ultra-high-pressure water jets. We’re currently working on the eighth of the 20 bridge joints. We’ve also begun installing the new steel reinforcement for the joints which will then need to be recast with new concrete.

“Elsewhere we’re carrying out a number of minor concrete repairs where issues have been found following the concrete elements of the structure being fully cleaned.

“The old lighting columns have also been removed, along with the sign gantry at the Morecambe end of the bridge.

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“The LED lamps will be reused but the new lighting columns will be easier to maintain, meaning that we won’t have to disrupt traffic as much when work is needed in future. Next month we’ll begin to change the scaffolding to allow access to repaint the steelwork on the older part of the bridge.”