The upgrade project at junction 28 of the M25 in Essex achieves a key milestone with the installation of the final bridge beams.
- Six steel girders were strategically installed for the Duckwood Bridge using a massive 1,000-tonne mobile crane.
- This largest beam lift involved intricate logistics, including bolting beams mid-air and precise placement onto the bridge structure.
- The operation was executed efficiently, avoiding full road closures and minimising local disruption.
- Focus now shifts to completing structural concrete works by autumn 2024, looking towards final project completion next summer.
In a significant development for the M25 junction 28 upgrade in Essex, the project team successfully installed the last set of bridge beams. This advancement marks a key phase in the project, all achieved without disrupting traffic flow on one of the country’s busiest motorways.
The Duckwood Bridge saw six steel girders positioned meticulously using a 1,000-tonne class mobile crane. The operation, managed by John Graham Construction with equipment provided by Baldwins, involved assembling the smaller beams mid-air before they were securely placed. This was the most substantial beam lift for the scheme, calling for the largest crane due to the bridge’s considerable dimensions.
Each beam, weighing in at 113 tonnes, was delicately craned onto the concrete abutments. With these crucial installations now complete, efforts are concentrated on the remaining structural concrete tasks, slated for completion by autumn 2024, with the entire project expected to finish by the summer of the following year.
As explained by National Highways project manager Zach Pepper, the completion of the beam lifts stands as a testament to the dedication of the entire on-site team. Pepper noted, “This was completed all without the need for a full road closure, limiting the impact on the local community.”
Further detailing the complexities of the procedure, Graham project manager Hugh McNally remarked on the challenges posed by water management and the existing BPA fuel line beneath the bridge. This required advanced temporary works, ensuring both safety and efficiency during construction.
Emphasising logistical coordination, McNally revealed that moving the steel girders needed detailed planning involving police cooperation across seven different forces to handle the unusual load transports safely.
The project is set to enhance regional transport, with Duckwood Bridge poised to carry the new A12 anti-clockwise loop road over the Weald Brook watercourse once operations wrap up.
The M25 junction 28 project is on track for completion by summer 2025, marking a significant improvement in regional infrastructure.
