Two new bridges were constructed across the old River Soar to replace an old bridge to the Freemens Meadow housing in Leicester.
The existing timber and steel road bridge had reached the end of its design life and was replaced by two parallel bridges. The project included new footways and cycle lanes and upgrades for the junction of Watkin Road and Upperton Road.
The project was completed whilst ensuring that residents of the 600 homes and businesses always had uninterrupted access to Freemens Meadow.
The project forms the final part of the Freemens Meadow residential development that Barratt David Wilson completed 20 years ago, with the replacement bridge forming part of the original planning agreement.
The new bridge set out to enhance accessibility to the development whilst achieving compliance with the latest highway standards.
The lifting operations, using a 500 ton crane, took place at night and required a high level of precision due to the proximity of the existing bridge and nearby structures.
| Client | Barratt David Wilson |
|---|---|
| Adopting authority | Leicester City Council |
| Client project manager | Bentley Project Management |
| Main contractor | Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering |
| Bridge engineer and principal designer | BWB |
| Bridge demolition contractor | AR Demolition |
| Piling contractor | Dawson Wam |
| Bridge and parapet beam manufacturer | Banagher |
| Formwork reinforced concrete | Shellmar |
| Traffic signals | Yunex Traffic |
The infrastructure and landscaping enabling the creation of Leicestershire’s first garden village has created a Charnwood Forest inspired sense of arrival and a sense of place for Broadnook, just south of Rothley.
The £8.5m A50 corridor project included substantial remodelling of the Fiveways junction – a long term source of driver confusion, congestion and disruption along one of the busiest strategic routes in Leicester.
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