Winvic Construction Ltd has been awarded its first contract within National Highways’ new Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) to carry out an emergency bridge repair
Winvic has been appointed to carry out an emergency bridge repair following a routine investigation of the M62 Ouse Bridge which identified a partial failure of a joint on the eastbound carriageway.
Located between Goole and Howden in Yorkshire (junctions 36 and 37 of the M62), the M62 Ouse Bridge presented damage to the concrete under lane three and a bridge joint – which allows the carriageway to expand and contract with the weather – due to increased vibration from traffic.
To allow temporary works to begin a contraflow was immediately put into place to reduce traffic on the eastbound carriage to one lane, while a series of overnight road closures during the week commencing 13 June facilitated a second eastbound traffic lane to open on Saturday 18 June.
Winvic installed temporary metal bridging plates across parts of the eastbound carriageway, which enabled a further eastbound lane and the eastbound exit slip road at junction 37 to be reopened on Friday 8 July.
Winvic is working closely with a number of National Highways project partners:
- Jacobs is designing the repairs
- Amey and Winvic, are leading the traffic management
- Contractor VSL is heading the joint repair and replacement
Together the companies are working on the complex design process required to replace all eight joints across both carriageways towards a solution that reduces the need for full closures in the future as much as possible.
Temporary bridging plates have been installed over the damaged bridge joints as a temporary mitigation measure, and a second set will be added this autumn.
The two most critically damaged joints on the eastbound carriageway will be replaced by spring 2023 and the project will be fully complete in Autumn 2023.
Rob Cook, Winvic’s director of civils and infrastructure, commented: “We have been working hard with National Highways and the Yorkshire North East region to mobilise the Scheme Delivery Framework since we were awarded our place on it in September, so we were able to mobilise rapidly on this project on the M62 Ouse Bridge to begin the necessary immediate temporary works.
“We put multiple interfaces in place with the National Highway team and the other project partners, so we could work as one-team, towards one-goal with safety as the ultimate priority.
“The surfacing and bridging plate works have met programme expectations, meaning road users have been able to go back to using multiple carriageways and the programme is in place to install more plates this Autumn; while the priority always must be safety, it’s also crucial that disruptions to people’s journeys is minimised as quickly as possible and negate the need for full road closures as much as possible.
“Once the permanent solution has been fully designed and fabricated, we will undertake these permanent works, facilitating the long-term safe use of the Ouse Bridge.”
Phil Jepps, National Highways programme delivery manager, added: “The temporary repair work around the bridge joint and the permanent replacement of all eight joints on the Ouse Bridge is a very complex project.
“To complete this as quickly, safely and effectively as possible, it’s important we work with outstanding partners who share our commitment to working towards the highest possible standards.
“We would like to thank Winvic and our other partners on the Scheme Delivery Framework for their ongoing support to keep traffic moving safely while completing the vital resurfacing and bridging plate work.”
