An Innovative Geoquest Solution for Grappenhall Heys Development
Dingle Brook Bridge was part of a single carriageway distributor road designed to serve the New Towns housing development in Grappenhall Heys, near Warrington. The bridge needed to span over a wooded ravine at Dingle Brook, posing unique engineering challenges.
Geoquest proposed an alternative solution to the original bid from Birse Construction. Instead of the traditional design, Geoquest recommended using precast arches as the main spanning elements, supported by Geoquest spandrels and wingwalls. These formed the structural infill over the top of the arch backs. The cladding approach was identical to that of conventional concrete structures, with wall ties used to secure bonded stonework to the Reinforced Earth® walls.
Geoquest undertook the full detailed design of the structure, utilising finite element analysis to minimise the quantity of reinforcement and concrete required in the fabrication of the twin precast arches. This approach significantly reduced the construction time, saving over four weeks from the original programme.
As a combination of Geoquest products and methods, the Dingle Brook Bridge project received the ‘Construction Industry Award for Innovation 1998’ from the CONSTRUCT Structures Group. The award recognised the prefabrication element and the increasing importance of durability in bridge structures.
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