1-853 M60 Barton Bridge 2019/20

Operations Directorate (OD) is seeking continued technical assistance and support in completing the steady state management of M60 Barton High Level Bridge (BHLB).

BHLB has recently been assessed for 40t loading and its ability to be jacked under live load for the Category 3 spans. A number of steady state issues in its current condition have been identified during BHLB ongoing 40t assessment work that need to be rectified in order to safeguard the bridge's future and operation of the M60 in a planned way.

The bridge is being managed under BD79, Management of Substandard Structures, procedures agreed with Safety Engineering and Standards Division on the understanding that concerns will be addressed through planned bridge bearing adjustment works. The issues of most concern were to have been addressed through the final year of the ASC 10 commission, which completed on 29th March 2019, but some work transferred into The AD 10 contract.

Assessment work going forward in April 2019 will inform the newly appointed Asset Delivery Contract who will manage the future remedial and repair works to Barton Bridge and agree any longer-term monitoring strategy that may be preferred to expensive strengthening works. It will also ensure that the main canal spans are in a state of readiness to be jacked at short notice.

This work will continue to address the assessment of the largest, Category 3 spans over the Manchester Ship Canal. AD 10 will use the outputs produced by Atkins, in conjunction with SES, to produce a design brief to instruct the Area 10 Design Services Contractor, Amey. Amey will produce a design to allow bearings supporting the canal span decks to be jacked and adjusted as required. The intention is to have this design completed before the end of the calendar year and before colder temperatures which may affect the expansion/contraction of the bridge.

The duration of this work is expected to be from 20th May 2019 to 31st July 2020 and is being delivered in accordance with Specialist Professional and Technical Services Framework (SPATs Lot 1) requirements and this brief.