Abnormal loads transport specialist, Collett has been appointed by Adey Steel to deliver four 21.5 metre bridge sections to Gooselholme, Kendal. 

With the original bridge over the River Kent at Gooseholme Park in Kendal irreparably damaged by Storm Desmond in 2015, Cumbria Council undertook a £2m project to build and install a flood resilient replacement. Design work for the bridge began in 2018, with Cumbria County Council working with the Environment Agency to ensure the new structure complimented the Agency’s flood defence system.

Manufactured at Adey Steel’s Loughborough facility, the new bow arch bridge was fabricated in four sections for assembly on site in Kendal ahead of final installation.

With fabrication complete, Collett began phase one of the project, delivering all four of the bridge sections from Loughborough to Jack Tighes coating facility in Scunthorpe. Equipped with two extendable Nooteboom trailers, and 8×4 and 6×4 MAN tractor units, Collett loaded the first two of the four sections. Measuring 21.5m (L) x 4.95m (W) x 1.9m (H), the first two 14.5 tonne sections completed the 80 mile journey travelling under police and Collett private escort. Both arriving safely in Scunthorpe later that day, with Collett undertaking reversing manoeuvres on to site before offloading. The two remaining 12.5 tonne sections were loaded and transported the following day. Once coating was complete, Collett were on hand once again to complete phase two of the project, transporting the four painted sections the final 150 miles to Gooseholme Park in Kendal.

Travelling in tandem, again with police and private escorts in attendance, the loads made their way to Kendal. With Collett having undertaken a detailed route assessment ahead of the project, including topographical surveys and swept path analysis, the necessary street furniture removal, traffic management and Temporary Traffic Restriction Orders were put in place. This allowed Collett to safely navigate the narrow streets of Kendal market town, arriving at Gooseholme Park for offloading the following day.

With all four bridge sections delivered to site, construction of the final structure has now begun. Once the bridge is assembled, it will be lifted over the River Kent by 1,000 tonne crane, reconnecting two pieces of common land which have previously been linked for 140 years, and restoring access for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users.