Warden Bridge Bearing Replacement

Scope

Vertical Access was appointed to undertake enabling works to the bridge abutments to facilitate the replacement of the main mechanical rocker bearings by Ekspan.

The works required the removal and reinstatement of the existing mass stone coping blocks, together with associated repairs to the abutment stonework, providing the access required for the bearing replacement while minimising intervention from the railway.

The Challenge

The bridge is a three-span continuous steel half-through truss structure carrying two operational rail tracks. The existing coping stones were positioned beneath the main trusses, creating restricted access to the bridge bearings and making their removal particularly complex.

Individual stone blocks weighed up to 350kg and had to be carefully removed and reinstated without damaging the existing structure or impacting the railway. The condition of the abutment walls also required remedial works before the coping stones could be safely reinstated.

Our Response

Vertical Access developed a controlled lifting and access methodology combining work restraint systems with lifting and hoisting operations from a telehandler. This allowed the heavy coping stones to be carefully removed from beneath the trusses, providing Ekspan with the access required to undertake the bearing replacement.

Before the coping stones were reinstated, repairs were completed to the existing abutment walls. These included fracture stitching, replacement of damaged stonework and repointing using traditional lime mortar, undertaken by skilled stonemasons under Vertical Access supervision.

Once the bearing works were complete, the mass stone coping blocks were carefully lifted back into position and reinstated. The coordinated approach enabled the bearing replacement to be completed with minimal access required from the railway while preserving the existing stone abutments.

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Outcome & Feedback

Following VA’s site works, Ekspan were able to undertake the replacement of the bridge bearings under possession of the railway.

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