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Ainscough Crane Hire recently undertook the successful completion of the complex and ambitious Cockcrow Green Bridge beam installation over the A3 as part of the M25 J10 A3 Wisley interchange project Balfour Beatty is undertaking for National Highways.
Working with its client Select Plant Hire this project provides vital infrastructure and environmental benefits to the local community and wildlife.
The Cockcrow Green Bridge in Surrey is a groundbreaking environmental initiative and the UK’s first green bridge connecting two heathland areas. It will link Ockham and Wisley Commons, providing a safe passage for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, and local wildlife. The bridge is unique due to its 100-foot-wide corridor featuring one of the rarest habitat types in the UK — lowland heathland, carefully designed to support a diverse ecosystem.
Located within the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area, the bridge serves as a crucial conservation measure to protect species such as the nightjar, Dartford warbler, and woodlark. The surrounding area is also designated as the Ockham and Wisley Commons Site of Special Scientific Interest, home to rare species including the sand lizard and other heathland wildlife.
The bridge will be planted with heather and other heathland shrubs. It will provide a safe, natural corridor for local wildlife to spread and increase across the local area. This includes animals like sand lizards, silver studded butterflies and heath tiger beetles.
The installation required Ainscough Crane Hire to deploy the p LTM1750-9.1 crane. Over a 19-hour operation, the team successfully installed 22 W-bridge beams, executing two positional de-rigs and re-rigs to overcome the challenges posed by the temporary works requirements and constraints of the A3.
Ainscough Crane Hire maintained the highest safety standards throughout the operation in line with its Make the Safe Choice ethos while executing complex lifting procedures efficiently and with precision. From lifting the first beam on the northbound carriageway to detaching the final beam on the southbound, the project demonstrated significant technical expertise and coordination.
The bridge, constructed over the A3 between Friday, January 17, and Monday, January 20, was completed ahead of schedule, with the A3 reopening more than four hours before the 6:00 a.m. deadline.
Bob Beardmore, Heavy Cranes Technical Manager at Ainscough Crane Hire, said: “We are incredibly proud of our team’s work on this vital project. This achievement highlights the importance of meticulous planning, teamwork, and innovative engineering to deliver critical infrastructure that balances progress with environmental preservation.”
Gareth McNary, Lead Appointed Person, Select Plant Hire, client, said: “This project was successfully delivered thanks to many technical discussions, Teams meetings plus site visits. The early engagement with the brilliant Ainscough team has proved critical to the successful installation of the bridge and was a vital part towards the success of the project.”
The new green bridge is a key component of the broader upgrade work being undertaken and is due to open later this year.
