DORSET COUNCIL – ENGINEERING WORKS – DURWESTON BRIDGE

Over the last few months we've been observing the progress that the Dorset Council Highways Team have been making at the Durweston Bridge major construction project. The team onsite had to coordinate traffic signals, equipment and construction materials, removal of road fencing and kerbs. This was required so new culvert units could be installed.

Following inspections to the bridge that identified that the flood arches were deteriorating at an increasing rate and needed to be replaced to improve the safety of road-users. The existing brick arches would need to be replaced with around 30 pre-cast concrete units, each weighing 13 tonnes, which together will form the three new flood culverts.

Deterioration of the embankment slopes was also identified as a defect which was beginning to undermine the highway.

Dursweston Bridge Culverts

The work to be carried out:

• installing concrete foundations and scour protection for each of the new structures, on both sides of the highway
• demolishing three bridge structures
• building one bridge structure consisting of three adjoining pre-cast concrete culverts, with a total span of 11m
• building one bridge structure consisting of two adjoining pre-cast concrete culverts, with a total span of 8m
• building one bridge structure consisting of a single precast concrete culvert, with a total span of 3.6m
• reprofiling 225m of embankment on both sides of the highway, these will be retained using gabion baskets
• building new road surface, including providing 2m wide verge on both sides of the carriageway
• installing new galvanised steel vehicle parapets for each of the new structures, and realigning 225m of existing iron rail fencing

Last week, we were lucky enough to satisfy our engineering curiosity with a guided visit from the lead engineer on the site who explained the whole process of why the work needed to be done and how they have overcome some of the challenges they faced. The team worked with local contractors alongside the Dorset Council Highways team and several apprentices who will have gained invaluable experience during the course of the project. The project has run to budget and will finish on time so all the local residents will soon be back to normal with a safe and improved bridge to cross over on their daily drive over Durweston Bridge.

Our engineers are on call 24hrs, 7 days a week, day or night if you do run in to difficulty with your drains across Bournemouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Hampshire and Dorset and rural villages. Call 01258 863745/0808 250 9905. We also carry out CCTV Camera Surveys, Gutter Clearance, Septic Tank Management, Drain Repair and other Tanker Services for homes and businesses.

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