Transport News Issue 1 - 2021 - Flipbook - Page 21
OTHER
DYER & BUTLER COMPLETES
BLACKFRIARS ARCHES
REFURBISHMENT WORKS ON
BEHALF OF NETWORK RAIL
Dyer & Butler has delivered
infrastructure improvement
works on the arches approaching
Blackfriars Bridge.
This masonry support structure
forms a historical part of London’s
railway, so it really was a privilege
to refurbish some of its original
features and revitalise others with
21st century alternatives.
Jeff Taylor,
Operations Manager, Dyer & Butler
Working on behalf of Network Rail, Dyer & Butler has
successfully completed refurbishment works on the arches
approaching the century-old bridge that crosses the River
Thames. The works will enable a larger scheme to refurbish
the railway for commercial use. The team completed works on
two of the superstructure’s five longitudinal riveted arches that
support a grid of spandrel posts.
The programme of works required Dyer & Butler’s team of
specialist structural engineers to complete work on the
bridge’s fourth arch near the north abutment, including
removing the timber lintels within the portals and replacing
them with steel – a more resilient alternative capable of
strengthening the ageing support structure to meet the
modern building standards.
The project team also refurbished the original 19th century
cast iron components of the end arch by the bridge’s south
abutment, including cleaning and paint works to refresh the
overall exterior and prevent future deterioration.
Dyer & Butler Operations Manager, Jeff Taylor, who heads
up the business’ southern rail region, commented: “We were
delighted to have been award this project by National Rail. To
ensure the successful delivery of this scheme, we have
created an agile workforce to work collaboratively with
multiple contractors to prepare the arch bases ready for
commercial use. This masonry support structure forms a
historical part of London’s railway, so it really was a privilege to
refurbish some of its original features and revitalise others with
21st century alternatives.”
Dyer & Butler’s in-house Metallic Structures refurbishment
team has worked on UK structures since its inception in 2002,
restoring and refurbishing the structures that form part of the
nation’s heritage and extending their operational performance.
The team’s processes and techniques, and the knowledge
and experience of the team’s skilled ICATS registered
workforce, enables the development of appropriate
interventions using modern materials to repair and refurbish
most types of bridges across the UK network.
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