Complex engineering work on motorway bridge reaches final stages

Highways England plans to finish a bridge engineering scheme on the M62, between Goole and Howden, 10 months ahead of schedule.

Engineers have been hard at work underneath Ouse Bridge, out of sight of the 40,000 drivers who use the bridge each day, so far replacing 112 of the 208 bridge bearings on the structure.

Contractors are suspended 25 metres above the ground under the bridge to replace the bearings, which allow the bridge to move in a controlled way during changes in temperature and weather.

The project, which started in May last year and was due to finish in 2021 is now expected to finish in May next year. It is the first time the bearings have been replaced since the structure was opened in 1976.

Highways England project manager Elvis Agbodo said: “This is an amazing piece of engineering work which presents some unique challenges and we have worked hard to keep disruption as part of the scheme to a minimum.

“We have worked closely with East Riding Council and Humberside Police to put in place well planned and signed diversion routes which we have only used during bridge jacking and de-jacking operations to ensure minimum disruption to road users.

“We have also responded to feedback from drivers and our night-time closures now start an hour later to reduce traffic queues on the route. We want to thank drivers for their patience while we carry out this vital work.”

The work has also been carried out without disturbing a pair of nesting peregrines whose home is under the bridge. Specialists have been monitoring the breeding pair to ensure that the work was done outside their nesting period.

There will be a series of overnight closures of the M62 during October and November, to allow engineers to use cranes to lift the bridge deck off the bearings to allow the old ones to be removed and replaced.