Shiremoor Bypass

This 49m span integral weathering steel bridge carries the Shiremoor bypass over a busy railway line, and serves the Earsdon View housing development built by Bellway Homes in North Tyneside. One of the key criteria for selecting this form of construction was to minimize future maintenance requirements.

The 25m wide multi-girder composite deck comprises ten plate girders, each fabricated in three lengths 10m, 29m and 10m, using S355J2W steel to EN 10025-5 for the range of plate thicknesses required. Five pairs of girders, each weighing 85t, were assembled on site with bolted connections using some 4,000 weathering grade Tension Control Bolts (TCBs). GRC permanent formwork was placed between the assembled pairs, and cantilever falsework was fitted to the outer girders prior to the lift to minimize work over the railway. All five pairs were lifted into position by a 1000t capacity crane during two 6 hour rail possessions, which limited disruption to rail traffic during the construction period.

The steelwork contract took a mere 6 months from award in September 2007 to completion. Profiling of the steel plates started just before Christmas, fabrication was completed early in February, and the girders were erected in March 2008.

Structural Engineer	Fairhurst
Steelwork Contractor	Allerton Bridges Ltd.
Main Contractor	Lumsden and Carroll
Client	Bellway Homes