Story Contracting

PROJECT INFORMATION

Story Contracting, on behalf of Nexus, installed the new Killingworth Road Metro Bridge in Tyne and Wear. One of the biggest engineering projects in the Metro’s history.

THE SOLUTION

The old bridge which connects Newcastle and North Tyneside, which dated back to the Victorian era, needed to be replaced due to its age. It was demolished at the start of the project to make way for the new bridge. The work formed part of the £350m Metro all change modernisation programme to modernise the railway’s ageing infrastructure. The new bridge, which weighs 370 tonnes, was assembled on a nearby site compound and then was moved into position on a multi-wheeled lifting rig, which utilised two secure, anti-vandal, steel storage containers. The containers offered a perfect solution due to their height, width and strength. The bridge was then secured on to its new concrete abutments and made ready for the scheduled re-opening of the Metro line between South Gosforth and Shiremoor on Sunday 3 September – the scheduled end of the 34-day major line closure.

Commercial Director, Alan Huddart at Story Contracting, said: “This has been one the biggest engineering projects in Metro’s 37-year history. “A huge amount of planning and work has gone into making this project a success, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of Mobile Mini. As always, they supplied us with quality storage containers which were a fundamental part of the project. We were working within an extremely tight time frame, and Mobile Mini were able to meet our requirements and were flexible in their solution, which all contributed towards the success of the project.”