summerlee canal bridge replacement

client - network rail

• The bridge lies between Blairhill and Coatbridge Sunnyside Stations on the Drumgelloch to Helensburgh Central Railway Line (NEM2).
• The original bridge was removed and replaced with an embankment. Site Investigation showed several service pipes below the bridge including gas and water. Material used to infill the canal was contaminated. To protect the services without diverting them, a slab was constructed over the services and the embankment was constructed on the slab. 
• To keep disturbance of the contaminated fill and service pipes to a minimum during construction, the slab was supported on columns (rather than piles) down to bedrock  Only small local areas were excavated to allow construction of the columns.Reinforced Concrete columns were constructed on bedrock, reinforced concrete slab was constructed on top of services and contaminated fill.
• The embankment was constructed with Class 6N material to just below existing bridge. The railway line was closed for 5 days while the bridge was removed, embankment constructed and railway line reinstated.