The bridge is launched

Massive bridge "launched" as bypass forges ahead

A massive 3,500 tonnes solid concrete bridge was "launched" as part of the Rugeley Bypass project this weekend.

The intricate engineering operation resembled a giant ship being sent down a slipway.

The railway bridge will be used to carry hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coal over the bypass to the nearby power station.

The entire massive structure was assembled adjacent to the railway line. And on Saturday it was moved along special non-stick Teflon rails using enormously powerful hydraulic jacks.

The entire edifice came to rest in a huge gap excavated into the railway embankment in an operation that lasted around 10 hours.

This technologically complex stage in the £22 million congestion busting, job boosting scheme, is being delivered by railway engineering specialists Birse.

This latest exciting moment in the birth of a new era of travel and opportunity for Rugeley is being shared with the townsfolk. The Connecting Rugeley Team have been in touch with schools and community groups to provide them with a grand stand view of the event.

Behind the scenes the team have be working away beneath the railway embankment, digging an enormous amphitheatre to allow the stage to be set for the bridge slide drama.

They have constructed a concrete and steel platform for the roadway and built the massive bridge structure itself - ready to slip into place.

Staffordshire County Council's development chief Councillor John Wakefield said: "Saturdat sees the culmination of months of hard work. Timing is crucial as the team have only a limited window to get the job done and limit the impact on supplies to the Power Station.

"Rugeley Power have given the team just two weeks to cut through the embankment, slide the bridge into place and rebuild the embankment over the top of the super strong structure to carry the rail lines, engines and carriages."

Councillor Wakefield added: "the bypass will relieve town centre congestion and make the town a safer and more attractive place to live. It will be a dynamo generating a new era in economic prosperity, plugging the town directly into the national transport network and pulling in hundreds of new jobs and inward investment.

"The Rugeley Bypass is a highway to the future. And today it's connecting everyone together, linking the generations in celebration," he said.

The Connecting Rugeley nerve centre at Station Road is open Monday to Friday, if anyone wants to see the team and talk through any aspect of the operations. There's an open door policy where local people are always welcome.

And Connecting Rugeley is on-line too - just visit www.rugeleybypass.co.uk

Page Last Modified: 30/01/2007 16:03:26

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