Tinsley viaduct strengthening project, Sheffield
About the Project
- Principal designer: Owen Williams Consultants
- Client: Highways Agency
- Principal contractor: Edmund Nuttall
- Contract value: £82.7 million
This project involved the major strengthening of the 35-year-old Tinsley viaduct, a twin deck, steel and concrete structure which carries the M1 motorway and A631 trunk road across the Don Valley, north-east of Sheffield.
The 1km long viaduct carries approximately 100,000 vehicles every day, but a structural assessment identified that its strength was significantly below that required. So, to accommodate increasing traffic flows, the £81 million strengthening scheme sought to end load restrictions over the viaduct by reinforcing the structure, whilst minimising disruption to the road traffic.
114,000 bespoke steel components were fabricated and installed during the project across the structure, which comprises 20 spans and crosses two railway lines, the River Don, and the Sheffield Canal.
The innovative two-stage contract enabled the client to save £4million, and the project was delivered on time, to the satisfaction of the client, with an exemplary health and safety record.
The Judges said:
"This project combined innovation and effective managment, both to save money and provide a replacement viaduct which will benefit road users and the community alike."