Tower Bridge - London

Expansion Joint Replacement on the North & South Approach Spans

Background

Tower Bridge, London’s most iconic landmark and one of the City’s busiest river crossings, was closed to vehicles for three months to carry out vital structural  repairs, refurbishment and maintenance works. The extensive use of Tower Bridge, by more than 40,000 people and 21,000 vehicles every day had taken its toll on the timber decking. This resulted in City of London Corporation awarding Bam Nuttall (on an ECI basis) the contract to carry out an intensive programme of repair works, which included operations both civil and structural. The Victorian structure, until now, had not had any significant engineering works for more than 35 years.

USL Structural Protection were contracted by BAM Nuttall to undertake the removal and replacement of the worn expansion joints on both the North and South approach spans.

USL Structural Protection's Workscope

USL Structural Protection had to remove a total of 10 no. Type 6 expansion joints and replace these with Type 5 joints - 5 no. on the North approach span and 5 no. on the South approach span.

South Approach Span - breaking out of existing Type 6 expansion joint

North Approach Span - Installed expansion joint across bridge deck

The scope of works included preparation of the road decks and footways prior to the removal of the existing joints; saw cutting the existing concrete deck and breaking out of asphalt by hydro-demolition; removal of the existing joint and lift-out using a telehandler; installation of the joint sub rails in the road and footpaths; concrete repair; installation of secondary seals, expansion joints, nosing mortar and antiskid.

The expansion joints were successfully installed across the bridge as one continuous length across the road and into the footpaths.

The success of this installation by USL Structural Protection, was attributed to working in sequence with the works operations carried out by Bam Nuttall and their associated contractors; meeting all rigid deadlines and working logistically against live river traffic in line with the scheduled bascule bridge lifting times.

For more information please contact  +44 (0) 191 416 1530 or email info@uslsp.com