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Ainscough Crane Hire’s Heavy Cranes Division has positioned a new footbridge spanning the main A465 Heads of the Valleys Road at Gilwern, close to Abergavenny in Monmouthshire.
Using an LTM 11000 D, 1000-tonne crane – the largest in Ainscough’s fleet – the single-span 57-meter long footbridge was lifted into place to provide a safe pedestrian and cycling link between communities on either side of the newly duelled carriageway.
The bridge, manufactured by Briton Fabricators Ltd has an unusual twisted design and is made from cor-ten steel which eliminates the requirement for painting and ongoing maintenance.
Andrew Clark, planning and technical support manager from Ainscough Crane Hire said: “Single span bridges do not often come much longer than this and it was a pleasure to be involved in the project. With this lift we’ve demonstrated once again that we are able to tackle the most challenging lifts no matter where they are in the country.
“It was great to see the bridge come to its final position and know that it will serve the people of the local community for decades to come.”
The A465 is recognised in the Welsh Government’s National Transport Plan as a strategically important route and its upgrade to a dual carriageway extends for 8.1km from Brynmawr in the west to Gilwern in the east.
Its completion links the previously completed Abergavenny-Gilwern and Brynmawr-Tredegar sections.
The scheme includes the construction of 14 major structures, over 12.5km of various types of retaining walls as well as excavation of over 1.2 million m3 of earthworks. All this through an extremely narrow rock gorge with a river on one side while maintaining current traffic flows on the existing route.
