The team at Acrow discuss the use of temporary vehicular bridges: potentially a key part of road resilience plans, these structures keep lifelines and community connections open in some of the most testing situations.
Versatile, prefabricated modular steel bridges are durable infrastructure assets, designed and manufactured for a service life of 100 years, but they are also a perfect choice when a project calls for a safe, reliable short-term solution.
Available in a wide range of lengths, widths and strengths, components are easy to transport, rapidly assembled and installed with minimal equipment requirements.
Available for purchase or hire, temporary bridges can be supplied in days from local UK stock and are provided with comprehensive services including bridge design and engineering as well as installation and removal support.
Diversions during construction
Every year, bridges are repaired or upgraded and sometimes the potential diversion routes are not feasible. In such cases, a temporary bridge can offer a cost-effective alternative that provides enhanced safety while reducing inconvenience to drivers and mitigating the economic impact on local businesses. Appropriate for priority projects on major and minor routes, temporary bridges can cut project costs through accelerated construction times.
The benefits of using a temporary bridge can be illustrated by a recent project in Scotland (pictured above). When Network Rail was planning to replace a bridge over the Aberdeen-Dundee railway line in the village of Craigo, Montrose, local traffic flow would have been seriously interrupted.
Once the existing bridge was closed for construction, the only access to the village would be via a 3-tonne weight-restricted bridge, making access for most traffic, including emergency response vehicles, impossible. Consequently, the decision was made to install a temporary vehicular bridge from Acrow to mitigate the impact of the project.
The modular steel bridge was hired by the project contractor. It was delivered to the site on 18 November 2024, fully assembled within days, then lifted into position with a 750-tonne crane during an overnight rail possession on November 30. The temporary bridge was lifted out on 27 March, when the new permanent bridge reopened.
In addition to vehicular applications, modular bridges are also frequently installed during roadworks to provide temporary access for pedestrians and to carry diverted pipes or utility lines.
Disaster recovery
Because speed of reconstruction is critical after extreme weather events, temporary modular bridging is often selected over traditional construction methods for effective disaster recovery operations. Components can be shipped to the most challenging locations and structures are quickly assembled with only minimal equipment required on site.
Holding modular bridges in stock for temporary use after emergencies can expedite disaster response. The value of this can be seen in the recovery efforts after flash flooding in eastern Spain in October 2024 damaged infrastructure and left communities isolated.
Since the early 2000s, the Ejercito de Tierra and the UME (Emergency Military Unit) have held several modular steel bridge sets in inventory for emergency response and the stock once again proved critical, with the organisations installing four bridges in the Valencia region. Due to the urgency of the situation, construction continued around the clock and the bridges were installed within several days.
Forestry and heavy haul applications
Often held in inventory by forest service agencies, modular steel bridges are extremely well suited to the industry’s unique needs, including temporary installations for maintenance operations and timber harvesting. Durable enough to support the heaviest loads, they are easily transported across difficult terrain to the most isolated locations and can be quickly assembled and installed by hand in tight build areas. Hot-dip galvanisation offers maximum protection from corrosion, and precision engineering ensures easy disassembly and reassembly as needed.
Heavy haul modular bridges are often installed to provide safe and reliable access during the construction of solar and wind farms. They can accommodate heavy off-road vehicles, machinery and equipment to facilitate site development. Temporary heavy haul bridges use standardised modular components for fast assembly and installation in days, using only minimal equipment to lift or roll into place. Easily disassembled, relocated and reassembled, modular steel bridges offer rapid-build solutions for the heaviest loads.
Whether your project requires a permanent solution to improve connectivity or a temporary detour rental solution for accelerated bridge construction, Acrow can connect you to the right solution, anywhere in the world.
