Cleveland Bridge UK (CBUK) has completed the installation of eight bridges as part of the upgrade of the A1 in North Yorkshire.
Utilising British-made steel, the 20-month project was completed with the installation of the 53-metre Fort Overbridge.
The work was carried out on behalf of Highways England’s principal contractor on the A1 scheme, a Carillion and Morgan Sindall joint venture.
The A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade is replacing the existing dual carriageway with a new three-lane motorway. As part of the extensive civil engineering works, the project required a collection of new bridges and extensions to existing structures to accommodate the larger motorway.
From its extensive facility in Darlington, CBUK fabricated and provided protective treatments to the steel work for the bridges, allowing the newly widened A1 in North Yorkshire to span over existing roads and rivers or carry existing access roads over the new highway.
The company also undertook the erection and installation of the bridges, which range between 80 tonnes and 400 tonnes and were completed during scheduled closures of the A1.
Among them was the installation of the scheme’s largest bridge, the 86.5m long Kneeton Lane Bridge, near Scotch Corner, which also had the largest steel tonnage at 398te and was completed ahead of schedule allowing the A1 to be reopened sooner than planned.
CBUK also supported the widening of existing structures, most notably the Agricola Bridge that carries the A1 across the River Swale, just south of Brompton on Swale. This required an additional 170 tonnes of steel to widen the existing bridge by 7m either side with a total span of 57 metres.
Chris Droogan, managing director of Cleveland Bridge UK, said: “The widening of the A1 in North Yorkshire is an essential part of improving the transport infrastructure of the North and we are very pleased to have played a key part in its delivery.
“This was a highly time-focused project involving the production and installation of around 1,600 tonnes of steel. Working closely with our client we have efficiently completed the delivery of the bridges, which is a significant milestone in this major civil engineering project.”
“This scheme will support the economy of the North and the companies based in the region, including Cleveland Bridge, which regularly uses the A1 to transport our streel structures around the country.”
