How do you build a road Episode 10 The Bridges

For our next episode, Peter Haddock is joined by Kieran Price, Structures Section Engineer for Kier Transportation on the National Highways A417 Missing Link road project. 

They recently went on site to take a look at the formation of the major Shab Hill interchange and the progress of the 37m long bridge that forms the Gloucestershire Way Crossing, designed for people and wildlife. 

Kieran: “The interchange is a key part of this project linking the A417 with the A438. It’s 62 metres long, sitting on 62 piles with eight wing walls. The bridge is founded on made ground, which consists of engineered fill that we’ve brought up by around 10 metres in places.

“To support the structure, we’ve driven 1.2-metre diameter piles deep into the valley floor, and we are now completing the main structural walls, preparing for the installation of 53 concrete beams, each weighing up to 24 tonnes.

“The beams are 3D modelled and will be landed to within 5mm accuracy.

“When you see the complexity of the rebar, you really appreciate the benefits of digital design. Every tolerance matters, and by getting it right, you save on time, materials and environmental impact too.”

We also visited the nearby environmental bridge, where the team is constructing a completely different structure. This one is a steel bridge designed for wildlife and pedestrian crossings, reconnecting habitats and footpaths along the Cotswold Way.

Kieran: “We’ve just completed welding the splice joints and grouting the bearings on this structure.

“Next, we’ll install the paraslims to support the cantilever slab for the deck, that’s when it really starts to take shape.”

From concrete to steel, both bridges have different designs but are equally integral to the overall project, and we look forward to seeing how they progress.

Look out for our next episode, where we look at how the Kier team has embraced a more sustainable approach to onsite power and lighting.