Jamestown supplied an unusually large Weathering Steel Half-through Bridge for the rebuilding of a railway bridge in Bolton, contributing to an essential infrastructure project.

A Vital Bridge Project

Working with infrastructure specialists J. Murphy and Sons Ltd., Jamestown delivered large bespoke bridge components for the bridge carrying Orlando Street in Bolton over the Manchester railway line. The bridge was being replaced as part of Network Rail’s regional electrification project.

Large Weathering Steel Plate Girders

The main outer plate girders supplied for the bridge were 40 metres long, varying in depth from 2.6m to 3m, weighing 68 tonnes each. Full surface bearing connections were required between the main beams and all the cross beams. Jamestown needed to source unusually large plates, 20 metres long, 3 metres wide, and up to 120mm thick to manufacture these large sections. The steel grades used were S355J2W+N and S355K2W+N plate. A further challenge was presented by the machining of the large bearing plates.

A Trial Erection at Jamestown

Using large mobile cranes, a full trial erection of the bridge was undertaken at the Jamestown site, before the component parts were disassembled and transported to Bolton.

Road Closures and Disruption

Jamestown’s involvement in the project lasted six months, but rebuilding the bridge required the closure of Orlando Street and consequent traffic disruption in Bolton for a total of 43 weeks. Network Rail’s area director, Terry Strickland, said in a press release: “This is a significant road closure in the centre of Bolton and we have carefully planned the work to be completed in the shortest, safest amount of time. These are essential repairs which are vital to maintain the safety of the bridge for years to come.” In accordance with their reputation for delivering on time, Jamestown could ensure that these commitments were adhered to.

Project Information

Project Team

Jamestown Fiacre Creegan (Director), Niall Fortune (Process Manager), Aidan Clear (Production Manager) J. Murphy and Sons Ltd. Chris Wright (Contracts Manager), Sean Quinn (Project Engineer)