Bridge project puts troubled waters behind it as crane lowers key piece into place

A GIGANTIC crane has lowered another piece of a bridge into place as the project proceeds apace after project leaders put an earlier unforeseen delay behind them.

The section of the Kepax Bridge in Worcester has been lowered into place as the structure is extended from the Gheluvelt Park side of the river, thanks to a massive crane.

For a time, only a small section of the bridge extended over the River Severn after one of the subcontractors went into administration, leading one neighbouring couple to liken the structure to a 'diving board'.

However, as these photos now show, the bridge is extending further towards the St John's side of the river as a key section was put into place.

The crane, essential to the assembly of the Kepax Bridge in Gheluvelt Park in Barbourne in Worcester, towers over the city and can be seen for miles around.

COLOSSAL: The crane at the Kepax Bridge site, viewed from the Pump House in Gheluvelt Park in Barbourne, Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Workers said the crane, which was hoisted up using two smaller cranes, has a lifting power of 1,000 tonnes and is among the biggest in Europe.

Baldwins Crane Hire Ltd, which supplies the cranes, specialise in heavy lift designs with a fleet that range from 25 to 1,250 tonne lifting capacity.

The bridge will run from Gheluvelt Park to the east of the river to the Kepax site in St John’s, to the west.

When it is finished, still scheduled for the end of this year, walkers and cyclists will be able to complete a 'figure-of-eight' route along the River Severn from the Diglis bridge in the south to the recently refurbished Sabrina Bridge near the city centre to the new bridge in the north (and back again).

Subcontractors, SH Structures, went into administration in April, leaving the main contractor, Alun Griffiths, to appoint a new one.

RECOMMENDED READING: Kepax Bridge big Baldwins crane towers over Worcester

RECOMMENDED READING: Giant crane being constructed near Kepax Bridge - live

However, a new sub-contractor to undertake the remaining steel work was appointed and welding of the pylon and curved section started on June 10.

Police cones and warning signs have been placed on several roads including Waterworks Road, Pope Iron Road by the Winning Post pub, Pitchcroft Lane and Barbourne Walk and Somers Road.

The signs said 'parking suspended: no waiting, no loading, no parking' between 9am and 5pm from July 1 to July 3. A symbol for a tow truck also appears on the sign.

However, new parking restrictions are set to come into force again on July 8 and 9.