Lincoln Eastern Bypass

• Project Lincoln bypass carriageway road
• Principal Contractor Galliford Try
• Project Lead Cameron Swan, Technical Sales
• Key Benefit Potential site issues were resolved by MGF’s design team

Following the collapse of Carillion, Galliford Try were appointed to build a 7.5km single carriageway road that would form a new bypass on the eastern side of Lincoln – known as the Lincoln Eastern Bypass.

When complete, the new road will connect the A15 with the A158, relieving congestion by up to 25% in Lincoln City Centre. Expected to cost £120million, the bypass will improve local infrastructure and enhance the inner-city environment.

MGF were asked to support a phase of the project to construct a 250m, five span bridge over the River Witham. With two of the four bridge piers being one-sided excavations, Galliford Try supported this with sheet piling. Both MGF four-sided excavations would be located between water courses: with the River Witham one side and either the North or South Delph on the other side.

Due to the proximity of the river, high water table and challenging thick levels of peat, the ground conditions increased the complexity of the design. Adding to this, a problem was recognised with the position of the cross struts. Existing permanent piles meant the position of the cross struts had to be between the piles during the install of the excavation, to allow the piles to be cropped. However, the cross struts would then directly clash with the construction of the new columns for the pier.

After careful consideration of the knee brace / strut positioning, MGF’s Senior Engineer, Emma Hewitt issued a design that allowed for the cross struts to be re-positioned as the excavation progressed. Movement of the cross struts during construction allowed for the demolition of the existing piles, then construction of the new bridge columns. The final position of the cross struts was central between the columns.

The final solution utilised a combination of GU16N sheet piles, 406UC and 305UC frames with 400 series cross struts across both excavations which spanned 21.8m x 9.80m and up to 3.7m deep.

With discussion open over a year before the equipment was supplied, MGF’s early involvement in infrastructure projects demonstrates the value of early engagement between contractor and temporary works design teams.

MGF’s relationship with the customer ensured any site issues were resolved in advance of work commencing, with the final solution decided months before the excavation work started.