Client: Sandwell Borough Council
Project: Bridge over the Birmingham Canal
A Matière pre–cast concrete arch from ABM Bridge Systems has been installed alongside a century old brick arch structure and an earlier Brindley designed bridge of 1772. The new bridge spans the canal and towpath and is sympathetic in profile and external finish to the earlier structures.
This bridge completes a programme of works to upgrade bridge decks in the area to meet EU Directive 89/460/EEC for conveying 40 tonne trucks. British Waterways were insistent on keeping the canal open to navigation during the construction works. This precluded the use of a cast in–situ arch and after consideration the three element pre–cast Matière soil–interactive arch was selected. The new road bridge is formed from three specially shaped rings with an overall diameter of 9.2 metres.
The original canal bridges are flattened arches and so the lower sections of the Matière arches are buried in the earth to give the correct height to span ratio with a navigable height of 4.6 metres The completed structure is faced with class A blue engineering brick, respecting the heritage of the site, but also offering practical advantages of long life and low maintenance. Detailing in the brickwork has been used to emphasise the curvature of the arch and recycled bricks from the old jack arches have been used for towpath paving. The new arch echoes the symmetry of the earlier structures and creates a pleasing sight line.
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