New Bridge Construction
Client
Moss Construction
Principal Contractor
Freyssinet
Engineer
David Dexter Associates
Contract Value
£400K
Contract Duration
12 weeks
Spiceball Park Sports Centre in the centre of Banbury, Oxfordshire, was re-developed by Moss Construction. The ‘island site’ is bordered by busy roads and the River Cherwell. Whilst access to the new sports centre site was available by car there was a desire to offer safe pedestrian and cycle access to the new development.
In order to facilitate the requirement for safe pedestrian and cyclist access, the architect involved in the scheme was looking to provide an umbilical link from the Banbury Town Centre to the new sports centre, by way of a new bridge construction ‘A-frame’ stay cable bridge. This structure was intended to make for an attractively proportioned and dramatic bridge with architectural merit while also being complimentary to the context in which it is located.
To emphasise the link that the bridge would provide, the structure was extended in length across the existing public car park on the south side of the River Cherwell to a point directly opposite the entrance to the new sports centre. The extended length of the footbridge deck not only emphasised its purpose but also allowed for a gentle gradient up and over the bridge ideal for wheelchair users, disabled, the elderly and cyclists.
Freyssinet was contracted by Moss Construction to provide a design and build solution for the complete works package. David Dexter Associates undertook the design on behalf of Freyssinet and developed a solution that consisted of two structural elements.
Firstly, an elevated ramp across the existing car park formed section one of the scheme. This structural element was designed and supplied by Reinforced Earth Company (Vinci Group), and took the form of a three metre wide earth retaining ramp formed of Terratrel panels and clad with brickwork, thus in keeping with the aesthetics of the new sports centre.
The A-frame stay cable bridge formed section two of the scheme. This structural element consisted of an overall deck length of 42 metres across the River Cherwell and a stay cable mast of 13m in height. SH Structures worked in partnership with Freyssinet to develop the design and provide a cost effective high quality steelwork package. The structure was treated with protective coatings and anti-skid was applied to the deck prior to dispatch from the fabrication shop. Freyssinet designed and supplied permanent bearings for the structure.
Freyssinet also took on the design and installation of rotary bored piles to depths of up to 12.5 metres at foundation locations in order to transfer the bridge loadings.