Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd

Shaken Bridge Reconstruction

A £1.2 million contract for the reconstruction of Shaken Bridge, crossing the River Rye near to the town of Helmsley, situated in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors.

The scheme entailed the structural dismantling and reconstruction of a single span stone arch 19th Century bridge, which was badly damaged during flood conditions in the summer of 2005.

Re-use of existing materials was critical to retaining the bridges character and appearance as well as reducing the impact of construction works on the area. Work entailed recording the positions of individual stones and existing bridge levels before dismantling the structure and setting aside the individual stones for reconstruction where possible. Work also involved repair and improvement works to an Environment Agency flow monitoring station and weir just downstream of the structure.

The contract called for close liaison with the Environment Agency, local landowners and the National Parks Authority. During works, a temporary bridge was used to carry the road over the river.

The bridge was first built in 1825 and was later modified and widened.

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