Providing a permanent road bridge across the River Thames
We constructed this new road bridge, along with its associated highway infrastructure links, without impacting the day-to-day operation of the A244 strategic route or the River Thames.
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Surrey County Council
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Atkins and Mabey
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Advisory and concept development
Specialist design
Complex project delivery
key benefits
20%
cost reduction achieved at 2010 Government spending review
£2.3m
of lean construction savings delivered
Delivered on time and to budget (£32.56m)
No
reportable accidents or incidents
Extremely positive community feedback
Community and environmental benefits
This new road crossing over the River Thames not only carries one of Surrey’s key strategic routes, it’s also bringing improvements to the community and the environment.
We replaced two life-expired and utilitarian bridges with an iconic structure – twin slender, yet dramatic, hexagonal curved ivory arches – that gives the area a unique identifier.
It’s part of an overall scheme that provides a legacy to the local community, enhancing the Thames waterfront and the Cowey Sale parkland.
Careful sequencing of the works provided a safe passage for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. By using existing and new slip roads, we could erect the bridge without restricting the public right of way. An innovative stabilised earth platform eliminated 12,000 vehicle movements, 60,000 tonnes of imported virgin material and the need to dispose of landfill bound material.
The integrated project team has responded well to various challenges, including the need to reduce the cost of the project and increase sustainability, whilst working in a challenging location, developing often innovative and always effective solutions.
We minimised disruption to the local environment by adopting non-impact piling techniques to reduce construction nuisance. We also used existing structures as temporary jetties to minimise construction of temporary works in the river. Our teams carefully worked across Cowey Sale to prevent restriction of the floodplain, avoid pollution and reduce groundwater pumping.
Importantly, the teams have established the project as part of the local community, leading to high levels of satisfaction amongst the residents of the area.
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