Located in the village of Stoke in Andover, Hampshire, this bridge was commissioned by a private property owner to establish reliable access to their five acres of surrounding farmland.
The client required a structure capable of supporting heavy-duty agricultural vehicles over a seasonally dry watercourse known as the Bourne Rivulet.
AWA was appointed to undertake the structural design of the bridge abutments, with a particular focus on ensuring the structure could safely accommodate exceptionally high loads. The bridge abutments act as the foundations to the bridge deck and retain the banked ground on either side.
Construction of the bridge was carried out by independent contractors, RJ Bull Environmental Contractors, based on the detailed designs provided by AWA.
Garston Bridge presented a distinctive engineering challenge, requiring consideration of both high load capacity and environmental constraints.
At the beginning of the project, the Environment Agency provided a report that determined that the bridge needed a minimum clearance of 300mm to allow for high water in storm conditions. To meet this requirement, extensive groundwork was needed to raise the riverbank level accordingly. AWA collaborated closely with the contractor team to ensure that despite this, the project remained on track and met budget expectations.
The bridge abutments were formed using reinforced concrete, allowing for an efficient design which utilises the weight of the earth bank to help prevent the abutments overturning.
Interestingly, the steel reinforcing cage was fixed together in a warehouse before being transported to site, allowing for the cage to be quickly and easily positioned and shuttered for the concrete. The steel bridge beams were installed with a sliding bearing at one end to allow for thermal expansion of the bridge, and prevent the abutments from becoming overstressed. Durable timber forms the bridge deck, spanning onto the steel beams, and a timber handrail provides edge protection.
Although AWA was appointed in August 2022, the construction was completed two years later due to delays in securing planning permission. The design phase itself spanned approximately five months, followed by a coordinated construction process in which AWA remained actively engaged, working alongside contractors to ensure seamless on-site implementation.
“Seeing the bridge finished was a highlight for us and the contractors. It was satisfying to have allowed for the bridge to hold so much weight, providing reassurance to the client.”
The Garston Bridge project showcases AWA’s excellence in bridge structural design and shows their crucial role in supporting other contractors to ensure a project’s overall success.
It is an example of AWA’s capability to design bridges with high load-bearing requirements.
AWA is a structural engineering and civil engineering consultancy established in 1987, with a hard-won but deserved reputation for delivering excellence in our profession.
Our philosophy is simple: we put people first. This has resulted in a high number of repeat clients and an impressive track record of successful award-winning projects. We are proud to be professional, and approachable; we believe this makes us the ideal partner for your project.
AWA has chartered engineers in our offices located in Romsey, Hampshire and Bath, Somerset. We deliver services to clients across the South, South East and South West.
Our team includes both chartered structural engineers and chartered civil engineers committed to continuous professional development ensuring you benefit from up to date industry expertise, whatever your project entails.
To find out more about how AWA can help with your project, get in touch today. Call 01794 524447 (Romsey) or 01225 251498 (Bath) to speak to a member of our team. Alternatively, email mail@awaengineers.com and one of the team will be in touch.
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