NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR SEVERN BRIDGE

This article describes the engineering works now being carried out on the severn bridge to increase its load capacity by 25%, similar works are being carried out on the adjacent beachley viaduct and wye bridge. One reason for these operations, is that the bridges were not originally designed to carry vehicles as heavy as the modern 38-ton lorries that now cross it. Almost all the structural elements are being replaced, strengthened, or repaired on the two bridges. Strengthening tubes will be placed inside the bridge towers, the suspension hangars will be replaced by thicker ties, and fatigue cracks in the welds under the bridge will be removed by rewelding; fortunately, the main suspension cables do not need replacing. As a result, the severn and wye river crossings will conform to the Department of Transport's new bridge design guidelines and no longer suffer from the effects of the fatigue and wear that they have undergone since the route opened in 1966. Work began in 1987 and most of it is scheduled to be completed by spring 1989, although, after that, the roads will be resurfaced and new protection against possible collisions by boats will be placed around the bases of the river piers. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03077683
• Corporate Authors:

  Thomas Telford Limited

  London,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • JONES, H
• Publication Date: 1988-3-17

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 16-18
• Serial:
  • NEW CIVIL ENGINEER
  • Issue Number: 781
  • Publisher: EMAP CONSTRUCT LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0307-7683

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearing capacity; Bridges; Cable stayed bridges; Cracking; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Heavy vehicles; Improvements; Reinforcement (Engineering); Repairing; Wear; Weight; Welding
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 3085: Bearing capacity; 3455: Bridge; 5211: Cracking; 5579: Fatigue (mater); 9108: Improvement; 1236: Lorry; 9111: Reinforcement (gen); 3635: Repair; 3417: Stayed girder bridge; 8119: United Kingdom; 5293: Wear; 5485: Weight; 3852: Welding
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00493242
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1990 12:00AM