Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd

Humber Bridge Handstrand Replacement

Client: Humber Bridge Board
Value: £1.8 million
Designer: Flint and Neil Partnership
Contract: NEC3 Option A
Dates: July 06 - September 07

The Humber Cable Suspension Bridge is an essential link across the Humber Estuary, which is crossed by an estimated 100,000 vehicles every week. The bridge is essential for both commercial and industrial development within the area of Kingston Upon Hull.

Due to the aggressive bridge environment, corrosion had taken place, necessitating the replacement of the handstrands.

The contract involved the installation of central crossovers and the replacement of the bridge handstrands. The crossovers are sections of demountable barrier in the centre reserve, 1.4km apart, at two locations at opposite ends of the mainspan on the bridge deck. The crossovers facilitate the necessary traffic management required to create safe working areas.

Traffic Management

The installation of the crossovers was completed first, facilitating the traffic management required for the subsequent handstrand replacement. Throughout the works a single lane closure was maintained at all times.

Safety

Main health and safety concerns centred on the risks associated with working at such height. All members of the site team were clipped to the bridge cables whilst completing high level works. Local containment was essential with all plant and equipment subject to lanyard securing.

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