The steel bridge is the first of three components to be installed over the next few months to create a Roll On – Roll Off facility into the new terminal at the Tilbury2, under construction by Graham
The Tilbury2 project is central to the Port of Tilbury’s £1bn investment programme during 2012-20, which has seen it double the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume of cargo across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes).
The steel bridge, measuring 54m x 15m x 5m was chosen for its strength and durability in the marine environment.
The first 360-tonne bridge has been lifted into place as part of the construction of a new port for the South East, Tilbury2. The steel bridge has been towed 135 nautical miles from Rotterdam to the Tilbury2 site.
Peter Ward, commercial director at The Port of Tilbury, said: “This is another important milestone in the creation of our new port Tilbury2.
“Graham’s team successfully completed the linkspan fixed bridge installation and we look forward to seeing the bridge opened early next year.”
The Port of London (PLA) pilots were on board when entering the Thames Estuary and remained with Graham throughout the lifting operations.
Paul Scott, contracts director for Graham, said: “We have hit another milestone on this major project with the arrival and installation of the approach bridge.
“It was a real team effort from the loading out at Ravestein’s BV yard through to the installation.
“The approach bridge is positioned from abutments on both the landside of the flood defence and on the foreshore.”
The Tilbury2 project consists of the construction of a new port terminal and associated facilities on land at the former Tilbury Power Station on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury.
Due for completion in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and will see the creation of a new significantly larger railhead which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m.
