Engineering Ltd ( bridges and structures ) SUPPORTING BALFOUR BEATTY ON THE NORTH BRIDGE PROJECT
HS Carlsteel Engineering are currently working on North Bridge in Edinburgh which is a famous Victorian A-Listed bridge built in 1897 and sits in the heart of the city . North Bridge connects the High Street with Princes Street and the Old Town with the New Town .
The 3 span arch bridge spans over Waverley Station , which is the main railway station in Edinburgh with multiple platforms and it also acts as a main roadway artery through Edinburgh .
HS Carlsteel were awarded the contract by Balfour Beatty to undertake structural steelwork repairs in addition to the installation of permanent access platforms . The work commenced in 2019 and comprises a mixture of condition led repairs and assessment led strengthening in addition to miscellaneous refurbishment of non-structural items .
Working in conjunction with the City of Edinburgh Council and Balfour Beatty and other stakeholders HS Carlsteel has employed its considerable experience to carry out various repairs across all three spans . There are approximately 6000 No structural elements and the 2000 No cosmetic features on the bridge .
The Condition and assessment Led repairs are focussed on the condition of the structural elements of Springing Columns , Longitudinal Girders , Bracing Members and Main Arch Girders . Additionally , a large amount of work is directed at the joints , based on computer modelling . There are over 2200 individual locations that require strengthening across the entire bridge , each of these joints requiring a different approach and detail .
We are also in the process of removing the Cast Iron fascias from the bridge . There are almost 2000 elements including decorative features and steel plates which has proven to be a logistical challenge due to the loading restrictions and the complex matrix of steelwork and scaffolding supports .
We are continuously working within the constraints of restricted loading on the scaffolding which is underslung off the bridge with multiple hangers . Another challenge faced by the project team is that the bridge has remained open to live traffic and traffic management sequencing has influenced the methodology of some of the repair work . Other key challenges include working space for plant and equipment and the difficulty traversing materials across an array of obstructions and features .
As a company “ raising the bar on safety , competence and commitment ” is central to what we do to continuously deliver a high-quality product to our clients and take on even more challenging projects , whilst developing new skills , expertise and abilities .
We are bridge refurbishment specialists carrying out repairs and refurbishment on Highway , Railway and Marine Steel structures and other areas of the built environment across the UK and our experienced teams can support you from ECI through to the construction phase of your project . Please contact us for further information .
Eric Smith Senior Project Manager with HS Carlsteel said “ This job presents an opportunity for us to work collaboratively with Balfour Beatty in spite of the technical and logistical challenges ”
Contact us at admin @ hscarlsteel . co . uk or visit us at www . hscarlsteel . co . uk Head Office : Suite B , Hailey Road Industrial Estate , 68 Hailey Road , Erith , Kent , DA18 4AU . Tel : 0208 312 1879 , Fax : 0208 320 9480 . Northeast Office : 11 Royce Court , Billingham , TS23 , 4DE