Design rethink needed as A1 viaduct repairs get even more complex

09/01/2024 | CHRIS AMES

Completion of repair work on a landmark West Yorkshire viaduct has been delayed and the start of work on a nearby bridge has been ‘paused’ after both projects proved more complex than anticipated.

Last April, National Highways began work on the concrete Wentbridge Viaduct, which carries the A1 over the River Went, involving waterproofing and resurfacing and replacement of road markings and studs.

It was then due to move on to the nearby Wentedge Road Bridge, replacing the central pier, along with the parapets, joints, and surfacing.

At the time it said work on the viaduct was expected to complete last autumn, with the Wentedge Road Bridge scheme earmarked for completion in early 2024. The same contraflow traffic management was put in place for both schemes.

However, National Highways announced this week that closer inspection of the southbound carriageway of the viaduct had uncovered ‘a number of issues’ - once layers of surfacing and waterproofing had been removed.

Work on the structure is now expected to finish in the summer, with the scheme set to switch from the southbound carriageway to the northbound next month.

The A1 in this area will then be fully re-opened while the national roads operator creates a new programme of works for the Wentedge Road Bridge for 2026.

Project manager John Stebbing said the issues included ‘the need to repair sections of reinforced concrete, as well as manhole cover plates, the maintenance walkway anchor points under the bridge and safety barrier foundations’.

He added: ‘One of the challenges of only being able to inspect once you’re on site is that it then takes time to design, check and approve the engineering solutions to rectify the issues identified, causing delays to the overall project.’

The company added that on Wentedge Road Bridge, which sits south of the viaduct, repairs have already been carried out to the concrete abutments, with a concrete pour carried out on the east abutment in December.

Mr Stebbing said: ‘Wentedge Bridge, which is of a similar age to the viaduct, has posed a different set of engineering challenges. Although we are progressing concrete repairs and still working on design solutions, we’ve taken the decision to defer the major repair work on this bridge.

‘This will allow us to work behind the scenes to design a new central pier as well as ensure we have the right engineering solutions in place for the structure. Once all the designs have been completed and approved, we will then return to carry out the work at Wentedge Road Bridge. We currently anticipate this to happen in summer 2026.’

He told Highways: ‘The pier replacement is still a viable option. The problems we’ve encountered have resulted in elements of the propping to be re-designed, together with the methodology of pier construction.’

Mr Stebbing said the contraflow was always necessary to complete the work on the viaduct and that removing it while the re-design of the bridge pier replacement is completed would avoid prolonging it unnecessarily.

National Highways has described the Grade II listed Wentbridge Viaduct, which opened to traffic in 1961, as an internationally renowned structure.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Team Leader LGV Driver

£27,711.00 - £30,559.00, Grade 6, 37 hours, Permanent
An exciting opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Team Leader LGV Driver working from our Depot at South Kirkby. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Head of Highways and Transportation

£86,196
North Tyneside Council is committed to delivering outstanding services to people and places across the borough. North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear
Recruiter: North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

Works Technician

£37,399 (plus unsocial hours allowance)
The Works Technician is responsible for ensuring that the London Trams civils and off-track infrastructure Croydon (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Transport for London

Parking Officer

£31,524 - £35,448
Our workforce is key to making this happen. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Streetcare Operative / LGV Driver WMF2091e

£27,711.00 - £28,624.00
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking to employ an enthusiastic and motivated LGV Driver Ulverston, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highway Network Technician - WMF2090e

£27,711 - £28,624
We are looking to recruit a friendly and motivated candidate to join our Highways Maintenance Team as Highways Network Technician. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Strategic Sites Transport Planner

£47,754 - £51,802 (Plus £4000 Market Forces Supplement) (Pay award pending)
Worcestershire County Council and Wychavon District Council are seeking to appoint an ambitious transport planner. Pershore, Worcestershire
Recruiter: Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council

Transportation Planning Officer

Band F, SCP 26-31 (£36,124 - £40,476 per annum)
Have you got a degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Planning, Geography or Town Planning? Sandwell, West Midlands
Recruiter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

REL Skip Driver

£27,711.00 - £30,559.00, Grade 6, 37 hours, Permanent
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for an REL Skip Driver working from our depot at Castleford. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Mechanical and Electrical Engineer

£37,035- £41,511
We have an exciting opening to join our Property Team as a Mechanical & Electrical Engineer. Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Project Chargehand (4 Posts)

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum (Pending Pay Award)
We are looking for Project chargehands to lead teams working on highway maintenance and construction projects. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

0846 Head of Highways and Transportation

£86,196 pa
North Tyneside Council is committed to delivering outstanding services to people and places across the borough. North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear / Various
Recruiter: North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

Roadworker/Driver (3 Posts)

Grade 7 £26,248 - £28,161 per annum (Pending Pay Award)
We’re looking for roadworker/drivers to be part of our team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Street Cleansing Driver / Operative (Pavement Sweeper)

£25,584.00 - £27,269.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Street Cleansing Driver / Operative Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Technical Assistant for Streetworks

£24,309 - £28,163 per annum
The Streetworks Department has an exciting new opening in the service for a Technical Assistant. North Yorkshire / Countywide
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Project Engineer

£30,559 - £41,511
We hybrid work with a mixture of working from home and from our offices in Skipton Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Transportation Planning Officer

Band F, SCP 26-31 (£36,124 - £40,476 per annum)
Have you got a degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Planning, Geography or Town Planning? Sandwell, West Midlands
Recruiter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Technician – Highway Drainage

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
The Highway Drainage Management Team is an established team within the Highways Service Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Solicitor

NJC34 (43,693) - NJC39 (48,710)
North East Lincolnshire Council’s Legal Services team is a dynamic and integral part of the Council North East Lincolnshire
Recruiter: North East Lincolnshire Council

Prestige Gardener x2

£27,711.00 - £30,559.00, Grade 6, 37 hours, Permanent
The post holder will be part of a Street Scene Team to deliver a high quality citizen focused Street Scene service Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW