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Wrekin Steel Installation Team Herring Bridge project installation

Herring Bridge: End-to-end bespoke steel installation

  • BAM Farrans JV

  • Herring Bridge, Great Yarmouth

  • Access cover

Norfolk County Council’s third river crossing project in Great Yarmouth is one of the area’s most significant infrastructure projects in years. A significant part of the project involves an extensive upgrade to Norfolk’s road network, linking the two sides of the river and making use of a five-exit roundabout to take on the bulk of the town’s heavy traffic congestion. Our steel team was responsible for providing a bespoke solution for two failed manhole covers within an important network, which led to the first project completed by our dedicated installation team and a long-term fix.

BAM Farrans Joint Venture was appointed to the scheme to help realise plans for Herring Bridge to maximise investment, regeneration and economic growth opportunities in the town and wider borough.

Our involvement in the bridge across the River Yare started with a site visit following an enquiry about our steel services. Our fabrication and installation manager Richard Lovatt swiftly advised that two out of shape manhole covers and frames already in situ were not fit for purpose and in need of replacement, which would be no simple task. Despite carrying the load required above ground, there was no way to access the chambers below and removing the covers took significant manpower and machinery – which is not acceptable in an emergency. Once replaced, Anglian Water would be in a position to carry out cover maintenance and easily access the chambers below as originally intended.

Wekin's Steel Installation Team underway at Herring Bridge

Gallery

After several weeks of dialogue, exchanging of expertise, engaging new suppliers and reviewing standards, a final design for the new covers was reached. This thorough and efficient process led to two bespoke steel access covers that were a significant upgrade on the former covers. The covers now meet the exact measurements and required specification, which includes:

  • Hidden hinges
  • Spring and gas ram assisted lift
  • Lock and lift
  • 16.5 tonne wheel load
  • Solid top
  • Neoprene seal
  • 140-micron galvanised finish
  • Special non-slip paint finish

While the manufacturing and handover would historically have been our final involvement in a project such as this, our participation in this scheme also included installation of the bespoke covers. By also fitting the specified solution, this marked a business first for us at Wrekin – with this part of the project smoothly completed by our new, expert Wrekin Steel Project Installation Team. Available to tier one contractors, our installation team provides an experienced, expert and convenient option for a more efficient end-to-end project solution.

Herring Bridge steel access cover installation

The covers provided by Wrekin perfectly meet our project needs and the installation service is a great new offering. Wrekin’s steel team is set to make life easier for others like they did for me.

Chris Feeney

BAM Farrans Joint Venture

Wrekin Herring Bridge project completed

Chris Feeney, design co-ordinator at BAM Farrans Joint Venture, said: “The nature and scale of the third river crossing project meant that any setbacks were costly. Having an expert on the ground assessing our existing failed covers felt assuring – with the solution being determined as fast and accurately as possible.

“The covers provided by Wrekin perfectly meet our project needs and the installation service is a great new offering. Wrekin’s steel team is set to make life easier for others like they did for me.

Richard Lovatt said: “Great Yarmouth's infrastructure transformation and expansion is an important project for the region, and we’re pleased to have played a helpful part in it.

“We were able to provide a solution that achieved specification, as well as utilising our installation capabilities to ensure time critical delivery. We understand that our clients’ time is precious, so by being able to turn to us for a complete solution that includes bespoke and early steels specification, as well as installation support, saves time and provides peace of mind.

“Working closely with the client to ensure that we were synchronised, we became a vital element of its operations and were trusted to deliver. That was our goal and ultimately that was what we succeeded in achieving. Our involvement has been physically imprinted on the site and full cover traceability means the specification can be replicated or reviewed in the future as required, making the handover process and associated documentation as thorough as possible.”

Richard Lovatt

Great Yarmouth's infrastructure transformation and expansion is an important project for the region, and we’re pleased to have played a helpful part in it.

Richard Lovatt

Fabrication and Installation Manager