News
Capturing History in Concrete
23/06/2009
Not all concrete is plain! With the help of a local artist a mural depicting part of Suffolk’s heritage will form a decorative feature on two bridges in the new B1115 Stowmarket relief road.
ABM Precast Solutions have manufactured 34 precast parapet units for the project which are having the mural depicting the town’s agricultural and manufacturing heritage grit blasted on to their surface.
Work on the project is well on with Birse Civils building three new bridges as part of a scheme to ease traffic flow over and around the busy main-line railway. Two of the bridges which cross the River Gipping will have the design grit blasted in to their parapet walls. ABM worked closely with Birse, Suffolk County Council and specialist grit-blaster, E J Lazenby to develop and trial a suitable concrete mix. The ‘lino-cut’ type design is produced where the exposed aggregate contrasts with the smooth concrete surface to create the colour and texture contrast required.
The first wall was successfully grit-blasted recently and will shortly be in place over the river, bringing an attractive reminder of the town’s history to walkers passing beneath it.
Along with the parapets ABM are supplying prestressed bridge beams, pier units and stringcourses throughout the project.
Detail of the grit-blasted decorative mural’
Finished parapet units prior to grit-blasting’
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