Acrow Bridge has supplied one of its modular steel bridges in a like-for-like replacement of an aging Bailey bridge.
It was installed by Acrow at Tewkesbury Marina聽in a single day, ensuring minimal disruption during construction while significantly improving access to the marina.
Tewkesbury Marina is a busy, year-round facility on the River Avon with more than 300 leisure and residential moorings. For many years, access to the permanent residential moorings, office block, and refuse collection area was provided by a reliable Bailey bridge. However, as the bridge aged and its condition declined, a five-tonne weight limit was imposed following an inspection that determined it could no longer safely support emergency vehicles or larger service trucks.
To streamline approval processes, planning permissions and lead times, the marina sought a like-for-like replacement for the existing bridge. Choosing another modular structure also minimised the need for extensive abutment work and allowed for the potential reuse of existing bearing positions. Additionally, a rapidly installed modular bridge was the ideal solution to avoiding prolonged disruption to residents, which was also a key priority.
The single-lane solution selected for the project is 39.6 metres (130 ft) long and 3.15 metres (10 ft) wide. Designed to HS25-44 loading, it features a durbar plate deck surface and is fully hot-dip zinc galvanized to protect against corrosion.
Acrow designed the bridge, and served as principal contractor, providing temporary works coordination and supplying a full installation team including steel erectors and a site supervisor.
To minimise inconvenience, the new bridge was assembled in the adjacent boat storage yard while the existing bridge remained in use. Once the assembly was complete, the old structure was removed and the new bridge lifted into place. Both the removal and installation were completed in the same operation in two hours on 30th June 2025, with the new bridge opening to traffic immediately.
聽鈥淭he quick assembly and installation of the Acrow bridge made it an ideal solution for this project to ensure minimal disruption for the local community,鈥� said Laura Jones, Acrow鈥檚 UK business development manager.
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