MECG Visit To The Coffer Dams

MECG Visit To The Coffer Dams On The New Bridge

The group had its July meeting at Forward Point in Tanhouse Lane, Widnes. At the end of the meeting most of us got onto a minibus arranged by Paul Oldfield, Biodiversity Officer for the Gateway Crossings Board. We all had to wear hard hats, hi-vis jackets, protective glasses and gloves. We looked like we had just landed!

Donning our protective gear. © Gary Broad

From there we proceeded to Wigg Island in order to access the trestle road running alongside the dams.
Unfortunately this side could not be used so we then returned to the Spike Island side of the river. We reached the dams and disembarked. The first thing that was appreciated was the enormity of what was going on. The dams were gigantic and extremely deep as their job is to hold the three main supports for the bridge.

View along the trestle bridge with view of coffer dam. © Rob Cockbain

The work going on to build them was explained by a man referred to by his workmates as ‘Father Ted’.
Giant cranes, 80 metres high, were doing most of the lifting and carrying of heavy materials. We were informed that the supports for the bridge would be 150 metres high which looked like an impossibility to build!

The giant crane used for heavy lifting. © Gary Broad

The giant crane. © Gary Broad

The trestle road built for access to the bridge workings was to be disassembled after the work was complete in 2017. This alone seemed like an immense task.

We looked at the three dams, which were in differing stages of construction, over a period of about an hour and then got onto a hot minibus and returned to Forward Point.

It was an enlightening afternoon out!

View inside the coffer dam. Gary Broad

Gary Broad, MECG Chair.

Looking down into a coffer dam. © Rob Cockbain

One of the smaller cranes. © Gary Broad

View along trestle road towards Spike Island. © Rob Cockbain