MANCHESTER AIRPORT BRIDGE INSTALLATION

SPECIAL LOGISTICS – SAVING TIME IN BRIDGE INSTALLATIONS

One of the biggest challenges for contractors is time: how to complete a job efficiently so that minimum disruption is caused to travellers, commuters, businesses, and bottom lines.

In Manchester, we mitigated the impact of downtime and road closures when we helped to install a new, £6 million pedestrian and cycle bridge over the M56 motorway spur road at Airport City – linking two key parts of the Manchester Airport extension. This was a project for Cleveland Bridge UK, who were working for BCEGI UK Construction – the Principal Contractor, working with Airport City Ltd.

LIFTING AN 81-METRE-LONG SECTION

The bridge itself spans a void of 52.5 meters, although the completed length is 98m. The central section, which we moved into place, was 81m long.

All in all, this structure will link the site to the airport’s transport interchange and terminals, as well as provide direct access for pedestrians and cyclists travelling to and from Wythenshawe and the wider local area. As a critical piece of infrastructure, it needs to last at least one lifetime, if not more and weathering Cor-Ten steel made this a heavy lift in every sense.

COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS

• Once the components were assembled and delivered to the site, they were installed using our hydraulic gantry system. By installing the bridge fully assembled, we can reduce downtime on the project instantly.
• This is a signature skill for Osprey’s bridge logistics teams: our heavy-lift cranes let us load the fully assembled bridge onto SPMTs, having manoeuvred the structure into position, and carrying out self-offloading with minimum disruption.

This was another example of how much is achieved by working better, together. At this location, early planning meant we could consider the less common aspects of a bridge installation project – such as working in the area under flight paths, near airport control towers and radar – and ensure our team provided everything needed to get Cleveland Bridge’s infrastructure into place for BCEGI UK, on time and on budget.