Projects - Ennerdale Link Road Hull

The works are the approach roads and twin bascule bridges over the River Hull. The full spectrum of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and civil engineering disciplines are brought together in these works.

The bridge decks have nominal spans of 32 metres and incorporate a two lane 7.3 metre wide carriageway with a 3 metre wide footway to one side. The decks are designed to rotate about end pivots from the horizontal to 90 degrees in approximately 2 minutes. Each of the 246 tonne decks is counter balanced with a 337 tonne kentledge supported above the road on A-frames.

A computer controlled hydraulic operating system is housed in a machine hall sited beneath the approach road to the pivotal abutment. Two generators (duty and standby) are utilised to operate the eight hydraulic rams, which form the nucleus of the system.

Piling works in the River Hull and the flood embankments were required in order to re-align the river. This was followed by cast in-situ bored piles, which extended into an artesian chalk aquifer beneath the overhead power lines.

In addition to the normal statutory authority interfaces, close co-operation with the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Electricity plc and the River Hull Navigation Authority was required.