The iconic Wheatley Viaduct in Halifax has undergone a £1.2m renovation, including masonry arch refurbishment and the replacement of water damaged brickwork.
The historic Wheatley Viaduct in Halifax has undergone a £1.2m renovation, including masonry arch refurbishment, waterproofing, and the replacement of water damaged brickwork. New Civil Engineer reports that the work was carried out on the 30m tall structure by contractors on behalf of National Highways.
The repairs to the 180-year-old viaduct were carried out as part of the wider Historic Railways Estate (HRE) programme, which consists of over 3,100 structures that make up part of the former rail network in Britain, many of which are over 100 years old. They consist of tunnels, viaducts, abutments, and bridges, and were a crucial part of the industrial past.
The Wheatley Viaduct opened in 1890 to cross the Hebble Brook, and consists of ten arches that carried the Halifax High Level Railway. The route connected with the Queensbury lines that were part of the wider Great Northern Railway between Halifax, Keighley and Bradford that ran from 1890 to 1960.
The Wheatley Viaduct was mainly used to transport coal in its heyday, but the brick and stone structure has been closed to the public for safety reasons for several decades. The completed repairs will ensure that the structure is safe and will be able to stand the test of time.
HRE engineer Muhammad Musa said: “Wheatley is an important physical reminder of Halifax’s railway history and we’re delighted that the work needed has now been completed.”
“Following one of our regular examinations it was clear the viaduct had numerous issues and our contractors have worked flat out since the end of last year to ensure it remains safe and in good order for generations to come.”
Contractor Dave Martin said: “This was a big project, with more than 2000 metres of repointing completed, 100m of fractures repaired and more than 200 anchors installed. We also stripped, waterproofed and reinstated 1600m2 of the deck.”
“The viaduct is a big part of the local skyline so we’re proud that we’ve been able to secure its future for everyone to enjoy.”
Bat surveys were carried out before the works began to locate any nesting bats, and measures were put in place to work around existing bats near to the bridge, and to stop any more bats entering the structure during repairs.
Vegetation was cut back from the trees surrounding the bridge to allow access for works, and brickwork and masonry repairs were completed. Areas of water-damaged brickwork were cut out and replaced, and loose masonry was re-bedded or replaced from the arches and piers.
The internal and external faces of the parapets, piers, spandrels, and arch soffits were mechanically re-mortared and a waterproofing system was installed to the full length of the viaduct deck to allow for efficient drainage of rainwater from the structure.