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Existing Structure
New Road was widened to its present width during the repair works that were
carried out to Bideford Longbridge in 1969/70. The repair work to the bridge
was required after two spans nearest the town side collapsed in January
1968.
New road was widened by cantilevering out over the River Torridge. Seven
reinforced concrete roadbeams cast under and across New Road extend
out over the river and carry edge beams similar to those on the Longbridge.
The gap between the edge beams and the quay wall is filled with a reinforced
concrete slab which carries the footpath. The parapet comprises a masonry
wall to the north half of the cantilever, which is an extension of the bridge
parapet and steel railings between brick/masonry piers to the south half. The
cantilever and parapet are shown in Plate 1.
The existing river wall is constructed of masonry and extends for a length of
approximately 60m southwards from the bridge where it is replaced by a
sloping stone revetment.
.
Document Reference : SI 1
Date : 20/07/2010
2.
Document Reference : SI 1
Date : 20/07/2010
All the road beams have steel plates bolted to the faces below the position of
the edge beams. These are believed to have been installed because of the
cracking to strengthen the beams where they are most highly loaded.
The edge beams have been painted in the past with an acrylic type coating
which tends to hide defects and also to trap water which tends to accelerate
deterioration. They are in poor condition with significant cracking in the soffit
of most beams caused by corrosion of reinforcement (See plate 3).
The reinforced concrete slabs between the edge beams and the quay wall
are generally in good condition with some minor spalling of the concrete face
and areas of rust staining.
Document Reference : SI 1
Date : 20/07/2010
Document Reference : SI 1
Date : 20/07/2010
3.
Proposed Scheme.
It is proposed to demolish and remove the existing cantilever and replace it
with a new rock anchored sheet piled faced wall.
Demolition
Before demolition commences the existing bridge masonry parapet will be
carefully recorded and taken down to be stored off site. This will be
reconstructed once the new river wall has been built. The existing
brick/masonry pilasters between the metal railing parapet will also be
carefully removed and stored. The existing metal posts and railings are in
poor condition and it is proposed to replace them.
Once the parapet has been removed the edge beams will be removed by
either breaking up in situ or cutting up and removing off site. The ends of the
Roadbeams where they protrude from the existing quay wall will be
removed by similar means.
Reconstruction
Once demolition has been carried out a new sheet pile wall will be installed
along the line of the original edge beams. Backfill will be placed between the
new sheet pile wall and old quay wall. This will be done sequentially with the
installation of rock anchors to the front face of the sheet pile wall. These rock
anchors are required to anchor the wall back into rock and prevent it moving
forward from the effect of the earth pressures behind.
A reinforced concrete capping beam will be cast to the top of the sheet piles
to match the appearance of the edge beams that were removed and a
reinforced concrete slab cast to replace the one that was removed and to
carry the reinstated footpath.
The sheet pile wall will be clad with an in-situ reinforced concrete wall with a
masonry surface finish and will look very similar to the existing quay wall.
The masonry parapet that was taken down earlier will be reconstructed and
the brick/masonry pilasters rebuilt with new parapet railings and posts. The
footpath will be reconstructed and the site reinstated to its original condition.
It has been agreed with the Environment Agency that the existing sloping
stone revetment, forming the west bank of the River Torridge, may be
extended northwards by 15 metres. This will decrease the length of new
anchored wall required and provide a significant saving in the cost of the
project. The new revetment will be constructed from masonry over a granular
fill embankment to match the existing appearance.
Document Reference : SI 1
Date : 20/07/2010
The existing dedicated right turn onto Bideford Longbridge from the southern
leg of the mini roundabout will have to be removed to allow two-way traffic to
operate and this will also entail the temporary removal of the bollards at this
roundabout.
The southern footpath over Bideford Longbridge will be closed to pedestrians
and a new permanent Pelican crossing will be installed at the east end of the
bridge to allow pedestrians to cross safely.
Document Reference : SI 1