1. An old local landmark makes way for a new one

Published Monday 13th June 2011

On Monday 13th June 2011 a major local landmark, the large tree which stood at the corner of Cecil Road and Dogpool Lane, was felled by contractors. The work was carried out in preparation for the rebuilding of Dogpool Lane Bridge and was necessary because the root system of the tree will have to be removed when excavations are carried out to allow the construction of the new bridge foundations on the western bank of the River Rea. The bridge needs replacing because it is structurally unsound and supported by temporary steel jacks on concrete bases underneath its arch. These impede river flow when the river level is high and were one of the major contributors to the serious flooding of property in September 2008. The building of the new bridge will meet modern road bridge safety standards. Many local residents are sad that it has been necessary to fell the tree which has stood for at least 100 years, but equally there is widespread acceptance that the new bridge is essential and could not be constructed without the removal of the tree. The work was carried out by the Acorn Environmental Management Group and commission by Amey plc as part of the Birmingham City Council and Amey Highways Private Finance Initiative Agreement.

THE DOGPOOL LANE BRIDGE BLOG

BLOG ENTRY No 1: 10th August 2012

Hi Selly Park residents,

I'm Mark Butler, Amey site manager for the Dogpool Lane bridge replacement scheme. We are hoping to bring you regular blog entries on progress of the work on site so that anyone who lives near the site, or uses Dogpool Lane can keep up to date, understand what we are doing and know what to expect next.

The biggest change that you will have noticed recently is that the temporary footbridge has been installed. It isn't open at the moment to walk across, but once we start to remove the existing bridge, it will be the only way to cross the River Rea.

It was installed on 27 July, when we had to close the road while it was lifted into place. The road closure was a good trial for when we close it later in the year when we re- build the existing road bridge, and I have to say that it all went pretty smoothly. The diversion routes seemed to work well and everyone was very patient, so thank you for that.

The first of the utility companies have now joined us on site to lay their ducts in the footbridge. This will allow their services to run through the footbridge when we take down the existing bridge. In the coming weeks, more utility companies will be preparing in this way, so if you use Dogpool Lane regularly, you will see lots of different companies on site.

The other biggest change of late is that the lane closure over the bridge and temporary traffic lights are now remaining on at weekends. Previously, we were able to take them off at weekends, but as we now have open trenches for the utility works, it is not possible to have both lanes open.

We thank residents for their patience while we conduct these important works, and promise that we will do our utmost to ensure the work is carried out with as little inconvenience to you as possible. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 2: 17th August 2012

Hi everyone!

Well, we are still waiting for summer to arrive at Dogpool Lane, along with everyone else in Birmingham, but thankfully the wet weather hasn't hampered work on the bridge scheme. The only difference that this week's heavy rain has meant to us was that we kept an eye on flood and debris levels, which, at the time of writing, weren't causing concern.

Elsewhere, the utilities companies are making good progress with getting their services installed in the temporary footbridge, with Virgin Media being the latest company on site. They have very nearly finished their work now. A gas pipe has also been laid across the bridge in preparation for the gas companies to begin work.

You'll have noticed the lane closure, or traffic management, as we call it, switching sides a bit this week. That was to keep our workforce safe while we laid ducts across the road.

And we have also installed a new lamp column near the bridge - it's a large column so you you'll spot it if you have a look, and it's been added to standardise the light on Dogpool Lane.

Finally, we were inspected by the Environment Agency to check that we are doing everything correctly with respect to the flora and fauna of the area - important, I'm sure you'll agree, when working on a river. I'm pleased to be able to tell you that everything was ok, and we will obviously continue to take care of the local environment while we're working on the Rea.

Next week will see more utility companies heading onto site, so no doubt you'll notice a fair few different vans and logos.

Enjoy the weekend, and the promised 'hot' weather, and I'll be back next week. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 3: 24th August 2012

Hi everyone

I'm sure you'll have noticed a lot of activity going on around the site this week - we've had some pretty big machinery in! The machinery you may have seen was a piling rig, and it was here to install the test piles. These are basically big concrete piles which we put in to test our designs are ok for the weight and pressure they will have to bear. Over the next week, we'll be carrying out the tests, which should prove that the designs are as good in practice as in theory.

The utilities companies have continued their work while we've been doing that, and Virgin Media have almost finished the re-routing of services, with Western Power the next company on site.

Incidentally, if you notice the shopping trolley that's appeared in the river, don't worry, so have we. We're planning to fish it out soon, just as soon as the water level has receded from its current high, thanks to the downpours we suffered (again) this week!

This weekend, we're taking the traffic lights in. There are no open trenches which pose a risk at the moment, so I thought it would better to lift the traffic restrictions over the bank holiday for people who are out and about enjoying the extra day off - and dare we say some sun?

On a related note, you might be aware that we'll be taking the traffic lights off in October too - for the Birmingham half-marathon which passes by the site. In a moment of madness, myself and my colleague Jon have signed up to be part of the Amey team who are running it. So if you see two figures emerge from the site offices at the end of the day clad in running gear rather than high vis clothes - you'll know why!

Enjoy the bank holiday and I'll be back next week! Mark

BLOG ENTRY No 4: 31st August 2012

Hi everyone - It's been a bit of a quieter week this week after last week's frenetic activity, but plenty has still been happening. We've got Western Power on site at the moment, and they have a really big job to do, as they have three high voltage cables and six lower voltage ones to reroute through the footbridge.

These cables are located on both sides of the road, so you may notice that the closed lane of traffic switches from side to side as we make it safe for the team to carry on with their work.

They'll also be working over the weekend as they have so much to get through to ensure we stick to our programme and inconvenience you as little as possible. It makes no difference to the lane closure as this would be in place anyway because their open trenches - but if you see people on site, you know why!

I did manage to get in the river and fish out the shopping trolley this week once the water levels had subsided, although now we've had so much rain again that a load more debris has built up against the bridge pillars. We'll do our best to clear that as soon as possible, and thankfully there are no stray shopping trollies this time.

Enjoy the weekend and I'll be back with more news next week. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 5: Friday 7th September 2012

Hi everyone - So, it's September, holidays are over and kids are back at school. It seems to have been a busy week everywhere, and Dogpool Lane has been no exception to that.

We've noticed a big increase in traffic - road and pedestrian - as the schools have gone back, and so we've been trying to do our best to ensure that everyone has as smooth a journey to work or school and home again as possible. This includes trying to ensure any switching of the traffic management is all done and dusted by 3pm, so as parents and their youngsters walk past after school, we can escort them through the works.

And we have been doing a lot of that switching this week - as Western Power have been really busy finalising all their diversions. They are scheduled to be finished this Sunday - and then we have National Grid (gas) and Severn Trent (water) coming on site next week. They'll be there a week ahead of schedule which is obviously good news and shows that things are progressing well.

Finally, we have also been testing the piles, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. There's a big rig on site which you will more than likely have seen if you've walked past and it places incremental loads on the piles, which the designers then look at to say that, yes, it's all ok. That will hopefully be finished today, and then next week, it's on with more utility diversions.

See you next week, Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 6: Friday 14th September 2012

Hi everyone - It's been a tale of two utility companies this week with Severn Trent on one side of the road while National Grid are on the other.

Severn Trent have been digging excavations for some pretty hefty pipes, so if you spot a big hole, that's why! The pipes are being laid across the temporary footbridge and into the footpaths on either side of it, while a trench has also been dug a bit further up the road to connect to the existing pipe. National Grid, meanwhile, have been on the opposite side of the road, working to finish off the gas connections there.

The test pile results that I talked about a couple of weeks ago are still being assessed so hopefully we should have the results back soon. And we're also starting to talk about the methods behind removing the old bridge with the Environment Agency - the time for that to start draws ever nearer.

Elsewhere, I've stepped up my Birmingham half marathon training - up to eight miles now. I'm trying to steal a march on my colleague Jon who thinks he can beat me. He might be a touch younger than me - but he's also gone on holiday, so he'll be missing valuable training time, and hopefully eating lots to slow him down a bit further!

And while we're on the subject of food - big thanks to the lovely couple who gave us some snacks this week. Hopefully you'll be reading this and know who you are - but they were very much appreciated!

Speak to you all next week, Mark

BLOG ENTRY No 7: Friday 21st September 2012

Hi Everyone, I am pleased to say that work on the site has continued to progress well this week. The water diversion works are ongoing and National Grid which is diverting the gas supply is working ahead of schedule.

The road closure and dates to demolish the existing bridge are still on course for the 22nd October so do note this as a date in the diary. We have been working closely with the demolition contractor as well as the Environment Agency to ensure we cause minimum disruption whilst the demolition is underway.
Over the next couple of weeks Virgin Media will be diverting cables overnight on a couple of evenings so do bear this in mind. We will be looking to keep noise to a minimum.
A good week all round in terms of progress from the different contractors on site. Watch out for my next blog update next week!
For all those interested in Jon's half marathon attempt (see previous blogs on the Features Page) he is now looking to run in record time! Best wishes, Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 8: Friday 28th September 2012

Hi everyone - This week has seen a significant amount of rainfall and subsequent flooding throwing much of the country into turmoil. The local Flood Action Group did a great job in mobilising sandbags and communicating with the local residents and ourselves. We are always ready to assist in any way we can during the construction of the new bridge and will remain vigilant with the removal of debris from beneath the bridge as we did this week. A great effort from all involved and a quick response to the change in weather conditions. The new bridge when constructed will help prevent the build-up of debris and subsequent backing up of the river water.

Back to works on site, National Grid have completed their gas diversion works ahead of schedule on Thursday of this week, with Severn Trent water diversion continuing on time and to schedule, they have been installing blue steel water pipes over the footbridge and will be excavating trenches along Dogpool Lane in the next couple of weeks for connecting to the existing water main. Let's hope for a drier weather to come of the next few months! Look out for the next blog update next week - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 9: Friday 5th October 2012

Hi everyone - Well, October has arrived and doesn't the weather show it?! But what it means for us is that the time for the full closure of Dogpool Lane draws ever closer. I'm sure many of you will be feeling that it's when the 'real' work on site starts. I know the closure of the road will pose an inconvenience for many people but everyone has shown a great deal of patience so far, and hopefully, the new bridge will be worth the wait in the end!

Those of you who live in the immediate surroundings of the closure should have had your letters informing you of the dates of the closure now, or will do in the next week, as we hand deliver them to homes in the area. And the final junction improvement works have also been taking place in readiness for the bus and traffic diversions which will be in place when Dogpool Lane closes.

On site, Severn Trent are still hard at work diverting their services through the temporary bridge, and have now exposed the mains pipe either side of the bridge in order for it to be connected.

The other signs which have gone up in the area are those warning about road closures for the half marathon on 21 October, which is, of course, the day before the Dogpool Lane closure starts. I managed an 11-mile run this week - that's the last 'big' one before the big day for me though, back down to six-milers until the day. So, 21 & 22 October are big days for us here on site, and we're now just two weeks away - doesn't time fly?!

See you all next week, Mark


BLOG ENTRY No 10: Monday 15th October 2012

Hi everyone - As the closure and demolition of the existing road bridge draws ever-closer these are the latest developments:

Severn Trent Water are still on site installing their water pipe ready for connections, although their works will not be completed before the road is closed, this will not delay the start of the demolition works as their pipe does not actually run through the bridge deck but under the river bed.

We have been preparing the approach slabs and ramps to the temporary footbridge ready for the diversion on the 22ndof October, everything is going to plan at the moment and the footway diversion will be ready for when the road is closed.

We have delivered approximately 2000 letters and erected advanced signage as well as press releases regarding the impending road closure, Therefore there has been increased interest from local residents and businesses. I have been spending a lot of time answering questions and I expect the interest to escalate the closer we get. We are always willing to address people's concerns or answer any queries.

I will be back with the latest news at the end of the week. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 11: Friday 19th October 2012

Hi everyone - After all the hard work which has gone into the first phase of work on Dogpool Lane Bridge Replacement Project, we are finally at the stage which is likely to make the biggest difference to your lives. Yes, the road closure is bang on schedule, and so we will be closing the road on Monday morning at around 5am - by the time it reopens in the middle of next year, we'll have a brand new bridge over the River Rea!

Don't forget though, that there are plenty of other road closures in place for the half marathon on Sunday, including Dogpool Lane. And, once the roads across the city have reopened after that event, our teams will be out and about putting up the diversion signs - we want to make it as easy as possible for you all to get around during the closure, so we'll make sure there are plenty of these signs.

And of course, it's going to be a busy few days for myself and Jon (my site management colleague) as we're taking part in the run on Sunday - Jon has been making noises about wearing his work boots to run in, to give me 'more of a chance to beat him'. I'll stay quiet on that subject until our times are in! Good luck to everyone running though.

We'll be back on the street bright and early on Monday morning though to try to assist with the first rush hour and help make this closure as painless as possible for all concerned and we will be monitoring traffic flows around the area over the following days and doing our best to sort out any problems which may arise.

Once again, thank you for all your patience, and I promise that we will do all we can to complete this project as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Hope to see some of you lining the streets on Sunday! Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 12: Friday 26th October 2012

Hi everyone - After the rigours of completing the half marathon on Sunday, and the road closure starting on Monday, Mark has taken the rest of this week off, so your update comes from me, Jonathan Hendry, deputy site manager.

Where to start? It's certainly been a busy week, starting with the road closure being set up early on Monday morning. That's all now in place and thankfully went very smoothly. We've been out and about to try to answer any questions anyone has, but everyone has so far has been really understanding - so thank you!

We've made a few more changes to try to keep inconvenience to a minimum and also to ensure the safety of people out and about near the site. This has included upgrading the lighting on the footpaths leading up to the temporary pedestrian bridge and putting up a hoarding around the site to make it look a bit neater.

We've also had our urban traffic control colleagues out to look at traffic flows on the diversion routes to see where traffic is getting a bit clogged up - they are able to adjust signal timings to alleviate any problems. They are going to be out next week too, as we know the situation can and will change once the schools go back after half term on Monday morning.

Back on site, once the road was closed, the heavy work could start - and it really has progressed very quickly. The pavement and road have already been taken up to expose the bridge deck and the demolition company will arrive on Monday to start taking down the old bridge. So, after months of more 'behind the scenes' type work, we have now come to a point where big material changes are being made.

That's about all for this week - the only thing that remains is to update you on those half marathon times. I finished in 1hr 50min - with Mark Butler coming in 12 minutes later at 2hr 02min All joking aside though, well done to everyone who took part - and massive thanks to everyone who sponsored us and raised money for Birmingham Children's Hospital. Best wishes, Jon.

BLOG ENTRY No 13: Friday 2nd November 2012

Hi everyone - Well, if you've been down to the bridge today.... you'll notice that there is no bridge anymore! The demolition of the old bridge has progressed really well from last week when we took away the road on top of the deck. We have broken down the concrete and taken that away - now we are looking at the ways in which we can recycle that concrete so it doesn't go to waste.

So, where there was once a bridge, there is now wide gap across the river. Some of the concrete we have been taking out, especially from the reinforced pillars, was incredibly hard and has been a real effort to extract, but we are almost there. We anticipate the final stages of the demolition will all be completed in the next week.

Thankfully, while this has all been going on, the water levels in the river have been ok and remained fairly stable. There hasn't been too much rain to make it rise which has definitely made the demolition an easier job than otherwise.

The diversions seem to be working well, and pedestrians seem happy with using the new footbridge. We've been tweaking a few little things as they occur, such as signage at the moment to make sure everyone knows what's happening and where to go.

So, we are really progressing well now and Dogpool Lane is looking very different indeed. Hopefully, next week, I will be able to start updating you on plans for the start of construction of the new bridge!

Have a great week - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 14: Friday 9th November 2012

Hi everyone - First things first this week - an apology from us to you if your water supply was affected last weekend. As regular readers know, the Dogpool Lane bridge rebuild is a major construction project, and prior to the road closure, involved all sorts of utility services being diverted through the footbridge. The water main is the final service to be diverted, and, last Friday, while we were working on the bridge demolition, we damaged one of the water pipes. We hope that this did not cause you too much inconvenience, and assure you that we have looked at how this happened and taken the necessary steps to prevent a similar incident happening again. We want this project to be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible for you, the local residents, with the minimum inconvenience so many apologies that on this one occasion, this was not the case.

That aside, we are once again progressing well with the work on site. The demolition of the bridge is on-going and likely to finish next week, so we will be working this weekend. After that, there will be a reprieve from some of the noisier machinery you will have heard over the last three weeks or so. We will be breaking work to observe the two minutes silence for Remembrance Sunday at 11am this Sunday as well.

From the 19th November, the week after next, we will be inserting large metal sheets into the ground in front of the bridge abutments - these sheets prevent the river banks from being eroded and also give us a dry area to work in when constructing the new bridge. You might notice some vibrations as these are being driven into the ground.

That's about all I have to report for now - although, on a lighter note, if you see anyone coming off site looking like they have forgotten to shave for a couple of weeks, fear not. A group of the staff on site have decided to take part in Movember - the men's health awareness and fundraising campaign. We'll keep you posted on how they are getting on as the month progresses!

Have a great week everyone, Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 15: Friday 16th November 2012

Hi everyone - We have reached an important landmark in the project - the demolition is finished, the bridge is no more! The final loads of concrete have been taken away this week, to be reused and recycled, and from here, it's full steam ahead for the new bridge.

The designs have been drawn up, the test piles carried out, and so, once the sheet piling is completed - it begins on Monday - we can start to get that new bridge built. The sheet piling, as I mentioned last week consists of work which results in vibrations so please don't be alarmed if you feel these. As always, we'll do our best to work as efficiently as possible and get the work completed in the minimum time.

I've been out and about during the last couple of days, chatting to residents to see how they feel things are going. Based on their feedback, we have tweaked a few of the diversions signs to try to ensure people do use the diversion rather than the smaller side roads. Hopefully, this will make a difference.

Other than that, it's been a fairly quiet week. Have a lovely weekend, and I'll be here next week with the latest update. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 16: Friday 23rd November 2012

Hi everyone - No-one can have missed the weather that we have endured this week, and out on site on Dogpool Lane, it was bad enough to prevent us from driving in sheet piles on Wednesday. The rain meant that the river levels and flows increased until it was simply too dangerous for our teams to carry on with this work. However, the water didn't back up enough at the bridge to breach the river bank level, as now the bridge has gone, the river has more capacity at this point.

Elsewhere, we've been working closely with John of the Selly Park South Forum. He let us know that the wind on Thursday had blown down some of our fencing, so we were able to get onto that and out it right, and we gave him a hand collecting sandbags earlier in the week. Let's hope that we don't need those any more though!

So, the sheet piles are now standing in on the west side of the river and I'm afraid that you might hear us banging a fair bit as we hammer them in now. In spite of the flooding, we hope to be in a position to move to the other side of the river next week.

It feels good though, now that we are actually moving towards constructing something, and hopefully you will all also be looking forward to seeing how the new bridge takes shape in the coming weeks.

Stay safe and dry this weekend, and we'll be back next week with more news. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 17: Friday 30th November 2012

Hi everyone - We (or rather, the River Rea) had our 15 minutes of fame this week when we appeared on Central News as part of a report on flooding. It was fleeting, but we were definitely there, the unmistakeable sight of the sheet piles sticking up in the air was clear to all. The reporter said that the work was helping the flood situation by allowing more water to flow under the new bridge.

That sheet piling that you may have seen on Tuesday on TV is now all in. This means we have a dry area to work behind and we can now break out the concrete abutments behind them and get rid of the remaining concrete. Thankfully the rain seems to have finished for now, although now that the sheet piles are in, it should affect us less anyway.

The weather has turned a bit colder, but please rest assured that even though the road is closed, we will still be gritting both the footpath and the road in front of people's homes. We'll be doing that all winter to hopefully keep the road and temporary footbridge ice-free.

Finally, we have now put a viewing window in the hoarding around the site so you can see what's going on. After feedback from a few residents, we are also going to add another one lower down so that children - often more curious than adults - can also have a look without having to be lifted up.

See you next week - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 18: Friday 7th December 2012

Hi everyone - It's been a busy week on site this week, although there may not have been too many visible changes for local people. We've been hard at work demolishing the rest of the concrete abutments of the old bridge - it was pretty hard-going at times. So much so, in fact, that we had to get some extra machines in on the east side to get the job finished. We'll also be working through the weekend to ensure we remain on target and get this phase of work complete.

Next week, we'll be bringing the piling rigs on site and starting to put the concrete piles in place, paving the way for the new bridge.

We've also put in an extra viewing pane on the hoarding so any interested little ones can take a look at what we are doing, and we've tidied up the whole thing by giving it a lick of paint to keep it looking as smart as possible.

And of course, we'll keep on gritting the footpath during this cold snap - but please do remember to wrap up warm and take care when out and about.

See you next week - Mark

BLOG ENTRY No 19: Friday 14th December 2012

Hi everyone - The cold weather has really got to us all this week, and it has meant more than a few frustrations on site. When the temperature dips below 2 degrees Celsius, the concrete manufacturer cannot guarantee their product and so we have had to delay delivery of it until the mercury rises a little.

It's a frustration, as we had hoped to be on the way to having the piles in place on one side of the river, but we always knew that the weather could hinder us. At least we were ahead of schedule to start with so we do have a handy buffer zone to work in. Anyway, the temperatures are rising again now so we can hopefully get to work, and I anticipate that this time next week, we'll be saying that the piles on the west side are in. We have all of the preparations in place so with a bit of luck, we can get it all done efficiently.

As well as the preparations, we have also been gritting the footpath and access routes so that people stay as safe as possible while it's icy.

See you next week - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 20: Friday 21st December 2012

Hi everyone - We've finished the piling on the Dogpool Lane side of the river just in time for the Christmas break. This means we can look forward to doing the other side after Christmas. We can also continue excavating and look towards the first abutment going in - a fitting start to the New Year. We'll be back on site on January 2nd to start this work.

The heavy rain has thankfully not resulted in any floods this time so we haven't had any further weather-related delays, just got a bit wet! And other than that, we noticed a fair bit of litter around Dogpool Lane so the lads did a litter pick to clear it away and have the place looking shipshape for the festive season.

I guess all that remains is for me to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas, and I'll be back in the New Year to bring you more news from the site.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 21: Friday 11th January 2012

Hi all. 2013, a brand New Year and a time to set goals and resolutions; this week Dog Pool Lane has also been ticking off aspects on the 'to do' list. Starting with concrete piles. Piling for the construction amateur is basically drilling large holes in the ground which are then filled with reinforced concrete. We are pleased to inform that another landmark has been successfully reached through this work. As part of the bridge works, 30 concrete piles 450mm diameter and a minimum 12m deep have all been completed.

Furthermore, we have broken down all the West side piles of the bridge to the required level and will be starting with the East side today, in order to do the same. Do check in on us next week for a further update. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 22: Friday 18th January 2013

Unfortunately we are unable to publish Mark's blog for this week. Amey Birmingham Highway's press office has been extremely busy dealing with enquiries about the effects of the heavy snowfall on the City's road infrastructure and has been unable to process the blog and send it to us. Meanwhile today Mark has been very busy trying to ensure that the diversion routes are running as freely and safely as possible, particularly the Cartland Road hill. In response to a local resident's enquiry which we passed on to Mark he has confirmed that Cartland Road IS listed as a top priority route for gritting when frost and icy conditions are forecast. Mark's blog will be back again here next week.

BLOG ENTRY No 23: Friday 25th January 2013

Hi all - Apologies for the lack of blog last week - the winter weather has played a bit of havoc with our schedule, to say the least, but the good news is that we have managed to rearrange what work we are doing when to ensure that the overall duration of the scheme will not be affected.

The main effect the weather has had is on the progress of the pouring of the concrete for the west abutment. The temperature needs to be at least two degrees for this to work - and we just haven't been getting these temperatures - as I'm sure you're all aware! So, in order to prevent an overall delay, we are getting in extra resources for next week, when thankfully the weather is forecast to be milder. This way, we can cast both abutments on the same day, using a concrete pump.

I hope you have all been keeping safe and warm during this weather - we have seen some especially bad snowfall. Last Friday was particularly bad and although our colleagues in the gritting team were out all day, clearing routes including our diversion of Cartland Road, Pineapple Road and Dads Lane, as the snow continued to fall, the roads were affected. So, instead of writing the blog, Jon and I were out trying to give stranded drivers a helping hand by pushing them if they got stuck. Happily, the guys from the gritting team have done a sterling job, and the roads are now clear and running freely. We haven't forgotten the pavements either, bearing in mind there may well be people using them who would otherwise drive if it wasn't for the closure, and so we have made sure they are free of slush and snow and have out down plenty of grit.

One of our bigger challenges this week has been keeping the diversion signs visible - as the snow is constantly covering them when it comes down, so we have been out and about keeping them as clear as possible so people know about the diversion. We have had a small issue with people deciding they make better sledges than signs so a plea from us - please don't! For people who don't drive this way every day, these signs are the only way they will be able to follow the diversion and so they do a very important job.

Having said all of this, and despite the multitude of challenges we have faced this week, we are still progressing well. We always knew there would be some colder weather at this time of year and so we were ready for it. Fingers crossed that it warms up now this weekend as forecast, and we can all get back to a little normality!

Stay safe and I'll be back next week - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 24: Friday 1st February 2013

Hi all - Well, the big thaw finally set in thankfully, which made our working conditions a lot easier, as well as making it easier for everyone to get around. In the early part of the week, we were able to finish the preparatory works needed before we started pouring concrete which was good progress.

Then, today (Friday), we poured the concrete using a pump to form the capping beams. You might also notice if you walk past that they are covered in blankets! These are frost blankets to ensure our good work is not undone if the temperature does drop below freezing during the curing period. Next week, we'll be installing what we call formwork, which will then allow us to cast the plinths with concrete.

And, as the snow gave way to high winds, the diversion signs have still been causing problems, this time by getting blown over. Jon and I have been driving round the diversion route as often as twice a day to ensure they are not broken and are upright, in order to minimise confusion for any drivers who are not aware of the road closure.

Finally, if any of you are avid (or even not avid) Take Me Out viewers, you may have spotted a familiar face to these parts last Saturday. Yes, our very own deputy site manager Jon, or Little Jon as he will henceforth be known, had a starring role as his friend tried to 'win' a date, complete with footage of him being bench-pressed above his friend's head! It's worth a look if you get chance.

That's it for now though - until next week, bye bye! - Mark

BLOG ENTRY No 25: Friday 8th February 2013

Hi everyone - Well, we have had a bit of a quieter week this week than last, although still important in terms of what has been going on.

We have had some drainage pipes installed behind the abutments, where we poured the concrete last week, which are there to take away groundwater behind the bridge itself and channel it away from the structure. And we have made some small square concrete plinths, which go on top of the abutments. On top of these, we will place some rubbery pads which take the movement of the pre-cast concrete beams, which, in their turn, go on top of the pads.

These beams are looking likely to be installed in a couple of weeks and so to ensure we are ready, we will be working this weekend so don't worry if you see people on site. But we won't be doing anything noisy so your weekend shouldn't be disrupted.

Finally, we would just like to say a big thank you to the police who came to visit the site after a window in our offices got broken by stones being thrown, as well as some more vandalism to our road signs.

Speak next week - Mark

BLOG ENTRY No 26: Friday 15th February 2013

Hi everyone - The weather has yet again impacted on our plans although thankfully not in too disruptive a manner. We weren't able to pour concrete on the west side for a couple of days because of the freezing temperatures but we have now managed to do this. The forecast for the next few days looks ok too so we will hopefully do the east side next week as well.

We used something called the Dawson System to construct the sheet pile cap, which provides the formwork and edge protection at the same time to keep our workers safe and prevent them falling into the river. It makes constructing the pile cap easier, quicker and safer and it has been great to be able to use something so innovative on the scheme. We are also currently building the formwork on the wing walls.

The bridge bearings have now been delivered ready for installation, and at some point over the next week, residents of Cecil Road will be getting a letter from us to confirm the date the road will be closed while the pre-cast bridge beams are installed. Please do be assured though that access to properties on Cecil Road will not be affected by this one day's closure and a signed diversion route will be in place.

Finally, you'll hopefully notice that the site looks a bit brighter as we are repainting the site fencing today (Friday) to make it and the footpath look a little better. Thanks as always for your patience and I'll be back next week. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 27: Friday 22nd February 2013

Hi all - As we approach the most significant day in the project so far (Monday 25th Feb) we have been busy preparing and battling against the cold weather we have been experiencing. We constructed formwork for the East sheet pile cap and the two East wing walls and by Wednesday moved on to concrete pouring.

Concrete was poured to form the sheet pile cap and two wing walls, despite the weather becoming colder from Tuesday it was just warm enough to enable concrete to be poured. As soon as the concrete was poured it was wrapped in insulation blankets to ensure it doesn't freeze during the curing period.

Onwards, we we've been making the final preparations so we're ready for the big day on Monday, when the bridge beams will be lifted into place. Excavated waste is being removed from site creating the necessary space to get the crane in.

Loading tests have also been carried out on the carriageway of Dogpool Lane to confirm it is capable of withstanding the weight from the crane and bridge beams on Monday.

Look forward to updating you next week after such a big mile stone in the project has been completed. Mark

BLOG ENTRY No 28: Friday 1st March 2013

Hi all - What a week it has been! I'm sure many of you witnessed the huge landmark in the project on Monday which was marked with a buzz of activity on site from vast beams weighing up to whopping 42 tonnes each to a crane equipped to lift up to 500 tonnes! Despite some initial teething problems, as with all large scale project such as this, once we had managed to logistically get the crane on-site, slightly later than anticipated, some superb progress followed. A total of 17 pre-cast concrete bridge beams were lifted into position taking almost 6 solid hours to complete. All beams therefore were placed within one day - a massive credit to the people working on site to achieve this. Now the beams are in place, the utility companies can begin to install their services over the new bridge. National Grid has laid their 2 pipes across the bridge in preparation for the gas diversion and Severn Trent has been on site fusing their sections of water pipe together. The water pipe will be pulled across the bridge and connected to the valves next week. As well as this, concrete was poured on Thursday 28th February to form the two west wing walls. Finally some further good news overall, the project is on track to be completed ahead of schedule. Will speak to you all next week - Mark

BLOG ENTRY No 29: Friday 8th March 2013

Hi all - After the excitement of last week, with cranes and bridge beams, this week has been a bit of a quieter one on site - although there has still been a fair bit of activity.

The main work has been to excavate the verges to locate the live services. This means that we can prepare for the rediverted services to be installed once the bridge is in a suitable condition for this to take place. On a similar theme, Severn Trent have been insulating their water pipe and pulling it across the bridge ready to connect to their valves.

And National Grid will also be on site next week to connect their new gas pipe to the existing gas main - it really does feel a long way from the early days of the utility companies coming on site to re-route services through the temporary footbridge.

Next week, our main job will be to begin fixing the steel reinforcements to create the bridge deck - so it's even going to start looking like a bridge!

Until then, take care, and we'll be back with more updates next week. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 30: Friday 15th March 2013

Hi all - It seemed like winter had returned this week after the warmer temperatures the previous week, but the icy weather hasn't affected progress on site.

The next step after placing the concrete bridge beams is to further strengthen the whole structure by constructing a reinforced concrete slab over the top of the beams which forms the bridge deck. This week the reinforcement and shuttering for the bridge deck has been ongoing in readiness for pouring the concrete which will form the deck next week.

We have also started the difficult task of re-diverting the utility company apparatus over the new bridge. Two 250mm diameter water pipes are in position ready for testing and chlorinating by Severn Trent Water, with the final connections to be made next week. Two gas mains pipes are also in place and National Grid will be returning next to connect them to their system. Other news this week is that we had a visit from a representative of the Considerate Constructors Scheme. They are an independent body who assess how construction sites are set up in terms of consideration of the general public. The assessor was pleases and we await his final feedback.

Here's hoping for spring weather very soon. More news next week. Mark.



BLOG ENTRY No 31: Thursday 21st March 2013

Hi all - Another major milestone in the contract was achieved on Wednesday when the reinforced concrete bridge deck was constructed. The 185mm slab was heavily reinforced with 12mm and 16mm diameter high tensile steel bars and approximately 60 cubic metres (120 tonnes) of high strength concrete was placed using a lorry mounted concrete pump which had a 30m long boom to reach the far side of the bridge. I thank everyone for their patience while we manoeuvred the pump and the concrete trucks along Dogpool Lane.

The concrete now has to cure before we apply a waterproof membrane next week, the application of the membrane is weather dependant and we are hoping for a couple of dry days for us to be able to achieve this.

The new water mains across the bridge have been pressure tested and will have their final connection by the end of the week. Works on re-diverting the gas mains has also commenced and I apologise for any inconvenience to properties adjacent to the trench excavations on Dogpool Lane.

Finally, unfortunately we will be closing the access onto Cecil Rd from Dogpool Lane on Monday 25th March until the end of the contract to facilitate the re-diversion of the other utilities and completion of the roadworks, there will still be pedestrian and cyclist access at all times but vehicles will need to access from Hobson Road, we have delayed the closure for as long as possible but feel that for the health and safety of road users and pedestrians the closure had to be implemented. Thank you for your patience. Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 32: Thursday 29th March 2013

Hi All - Progress was maintained this week despite adverse weather conditions. The cold weather continued over the week end and this week, which could have easily prevented the application of the waterproof membrane to the concrete deck. After the snow at the end of last week, we spent Sunday clearing the bridge deck and drying it off ready for the membrane. Unfortunately the snow kept on falling on Sunday and the primer could not be applied, but the efforts were not in vain because it did allow the deck to dry off over Sunday evening and Monday morning. The cold weather did slow down the curing of the primer and work started on applying the waterproof coating on Wednesday in between the light snow flurries.

The utility re-diversions are continuing with the water main, which is now live over the bridge and the gas main which will hopefully be completed next week. A scaffold access has been erected across the river to facilitate the brickwork to the external parapet wall. Have a good Easter weekend and let's hope for some spring weather - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 33: Friday 5th April 2013

Hi All - The last week has been mainly about re-diversion of the utility companies' apparatus (cables and pipelines) back over the new bridge.

Severn Trent's water mains are in place and connected and on Monday 8th of April The National Grid gas main, newly laid over the bridge, was due to be tested and the gas supply diverted through the new pipe.

You may have noticed on the junction of Dogpool Lane and Cecil Rd we have diverted pedestrians across the grass verge on rubber matting and this is to accommodate the substantial excavations required for the jointing of the high voltage electric cables. These excavations have started and I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Ducts for BT and Virgin Media cables have been laid over the bridge deck al both companies commence their works from 8th April.

Work has started on brickwork that will clad the concrete bridge parapets has started and this will also carry on for the next 2 to 3 weeks.

It seems that our perimeter fencing has caught the attention of a perpetrator of graffiti (I hesitate to say artist). We had been fairly lucky in avoiding this problem but now there are 2 sections of graffiti on the fencing around the footway diversion. I will make sure the contractor paints over these areas promptly to hopefully nip the problem it in the bud.

All for now - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 34: Friday 12th April 2013

Hi All - This week has been particularly busy for us with the utility re-diversion work now well and truly underway.

Firstly, National Grid successfully completed the re-diversion of the gas main on Monday 8th April. As for the other utility works, Western Power are now on site and have excavated the footway's to expose their electric cable connections. They are currently in the process of laying new ducting from the bridge to their connection points and today have carried out the first of the low voltage connections. The high voltage connections will be carried out over a series of shutdowns throughout next week. Likewise, BT are also currently on site and are exposing their cabling within the footways. You may also have noticed Virgin Media doing their cabling works at various locations throughout Dogpool Lane and Fashoda Road.

Elsewhere, the bricklayers have been making good progress with the cladding of the concrete bridge parapets. Cladding to the south parapet is complete (excluding the wing walls) and they are now working on the north parapet. Despite a bit of rain this morning, overall we have had dry weather this week which has definitely helped.

Enjoy the weekend everyone - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 35: Friday 19th April 2013

Hi All - This week again the works mainly involve the re-diversion of the utility companies' apparatus.

It has been a complex task managing Western Power, BT, Virgin Media and National Grid all on site at the same time, hence the number of open holes on Dogpool Lane exposing various cables and pipes. At the moment though all of their works are on track to complete next week including a remaining visit from Severn Trent Water.

The other activities on site have been working on the brickwork cladding to the parapets and wing walls which is progressing nicely and we have also been preparing for the installation of the new kerb lines and footways which will progress further next week.

Just a final note, the permanent puddle at the junction of Fashoda Road and Dogpool Lane at the road crossing seems to be due to seepage from some sort of water main leak un-related to the works on site. Severn Trent Water have been informed of this and we will continue to track their progress in dealing with this matter. Please look in again for more progress news - Mark.

BLOG ENTRY No 36: Friday 26th April 2013

Hi All -The outline of the new road layout is starting to appear as we have been laying new kerbs as part of the highway improvement works. Also, the bricklayers have now nearly completed cladding both parapets, and will soon turn their attention to installing the concrete copings.

Meanwhile Western Power have now completed the electric cable re-diversion across the new bridge after carrying out their final Low Voltage connection on Monday. Another utility company to complete work this week was Virgin Media as they returned on Thursday to finish off their cabling works.

With regards to the other utility companies, BT have been working nights this week pulling through fibre optic cables over the new bridge. They will be returning Monday night to pull through copper cables too, which will also signal the completion of the BT re-diversion works. For the water diversion, Severn Trent will also be returning on Monday to shut down the water pipe over the footbridge. Then, once they have capped off the temporary pipe at each end, it will enable us to remove the footbridge and re-divert the pedestrians and cyclists over the new bridge when it opens. Best wishes, Mark.

Finally, we realise Severn Trent have still not fixed the leak at the Dogpool Lane / Fashoda junction. However we are on the case and will chase them throughout next week.

BLOG ENTRY No 37: Friday 3rd May 2013

This week's blog entry comes from Amey's Assistant Site Manager, Jonathan Hendry:

Hi All - This week we have been making steady progress with the highway improvement works. We have completed laying slabs and kerbs to the north footway and have also laid the first layer of tarmac as part of its full re-construction. The copings to the new bridge were delivered to site on Thursday 2nd May. By close of play on Friday, we had nearly completed installing copings to the south parapet. Therefore we are expecting to complete installing all of the copings by early next week.

Regarding the utility companies, we have also seen the completion of Severn Trent's water main re-diversion. BT pulled through their final copper cable on Friday, and are expected to complete their re-diversion works next Tuesday. This means we will soon be in a position to re-divert the pedestrians and cyclists over the new look bridge.

Elsewhere, Severn Trent visited the water leak at the Dogpool Lane / Fashoda junction on Thursday, and we hope to be able to provide an update as to when they will carry out a repair shortly. More news next week - Jon.

BLOG ENTRY No 38: Monday 13th May 2013

This week's blog entry again comes from Amey's Assistant Site Manager, Jonathan Hendry:

Hi All - Last week, on the south footway, we completed laying new kerbs across the bridge and connected up to the existing kerb line on both sides (adjacent to the bridge) and have also laid slabs to both footways where the toucan crossing is to be installed. Similar work was already completed on the north footway which has now been covered in the initial base course, and new fencing has been installed to the gardens of both adjacent properties in Dogpool Lane and Cecil Road. The highways works will continue throughout this week, and will involve laying asphalt over the bridge and footways and also the re-surfacing of the carriageway adjacent to the bridge. We have now completed installing the copings to the bridge parapets, meaning the bricklayers can concentrate on rebuilding BH Leake's wall and entrance this week.

Finally, Severn Trent have carried out repair works to the leaking water main at the junction of Dogpool Lane / Fashoda Road. We will continue to monitor the situation over the next couple of weeks to ensure the standing water does not reappear. Best wishes - Jon.