Significant progress on construction of single-span road bridge over ...

Contractor Graham has made significant progress on the construction of a single-span road crossing over the River Chelmer in Chelmsford.

The Chelmer Waterside Bridge project, being constructed by the firm on behalf of Chelmsford City Council, is gathering momentum with CFA piling for all structures being completed as well as continued progress with Formed Reinforced Concrete (FRC) works for all structure bases, abutments and piers.

Graham has also now dredged the river to allow marine access, installed the steel box bridge beams for south integral approach spans and installed the road drainage, attenuation tanks and formed a 5,000m2 attenuation pond.

The 49m span bow-string tied arch Corten steel bridge is 6m wide allowing for one lane of traffic in each direction with a 2.5m walking/cycle path alongside.  will allow boats to pass underneath and have a 32km/h (20mph) speed limit along with other traffic calming measures. Graham will also construct an access road as part of the bridge construction deal, connecting Wharf Road with Parkway.

Graham, which designed the bridge with Arcadis, said the tied arch bridge design in weathering steel was chosen because the design reflects the industrial heritage of the former gas works land. It also maximises the opportunity for river clearance by reducing the depth of structural elements located underneath the deck. This will allow for future navigation of this section of the waterway.

There are 280t of structural steel being used in the main bridge span and the bridge will be lifted into place in two parts via a 500t crawler crane.

The next stage of works to be completed include continuing with FRC works to the project retaining walls and south approach deck, construction of the temporary crane pad to support the main crane which will install the bridge later in the year and delivery of the main bridge structural steel to site for welding.

Work started towards the end of last year and is expected to be completed in spring 2025.

Once complete the new road and bridge will provide access to the new city centre neighbourhood, Chelmer Waterside. Waterside is a brownfield site east of Chelmsford city centre with potential for the development of 1,200 new homes.

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