Massive bridge repair completed

WORKING around the clock for nine days the work required on Keadby Bridge has been completed.

Network Rail engineers have completed the massive overhaul of the only sliding canal bridge in Britain that spans the Stainforth & Keadby Canal, Roger Fox reports.

Replaced

They strengthened one of the canal’s walls and removed rails and track equipment so that they could be replaced.

To do this, the engineers had to drain part of the canal using a limpet dam, a structure positioned on the side of the canal wall which created a water-tight seal so that the repairs could be carried out.

As part of the works, a section of the canal was drained to allow a 24.5 tonne concrete slab to be installed to strengthen the waterway's wall.

More than 100 engineers

The bridge had wooden beams replaced by metal supports and 656ft of new rails installed, with more than 100 engineers working on the project.

The original Keadby sliding bridge dates to the late 1800s and is believed to be the only one of its kind in the country.

Among the sliding drawbridge's unusual features are that it is battery operated by 64 batteries that are trickle charged.

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