ACROW has confirmed that one of its Mabey Delta structures has been installed to replace the Clyde Bridge near Carstairs.
Built in 1912, the bridge was an early example of reinforced concrete bridge construction in Scotland. A three-tonne weight limit had been in place for several years, until a routine inspection in 2018 found structural defects, which subsequently shut the bridge to all traffic.
The contract to construct the replacement bridge was awarded by South Lanarkshire Council to Eric Wright Civil Engineering in November 2022. The firm appointed Acrow Global Limited, trading as Mabey Bridge, to manufacture and install the steel superstructure, which is a 90-metre single span Mabey Delta bridge with a 4.2-metre-wide carriageway and additional internal footwalk.
The Mabey Delta is described as a prefabricated modular bridging system suited for long-spanning permanent applications on main highways or in rural areas. It uses standardised, interchangeable steel components with full highway loading capability.
For this project, the Delta was configured to Eurocode standards to facilitate connectivity between Carstairs and the surrounding villages and towns south of the river.
Michael Treacy, CEO at Acrow Global Limited, said, “We are delighted our durable, cost-effective modular steel bridging solution was selected to reconnect the traveling public in South Lanarkshire. Our bridges are manufactured from high-quality, high-strength steel, and hot-dip galvanisation will ensure a long and low-maintenance service life and provide benefit to the community for decades to come.”
Gavin Hulme, operations director at Eric Wright Civil Engineering, added, “We’re proud to have worked in collaboration with South Lanarkshire Council and Acrow to deliver this technically demanding replacement bridge over the River Clyde just 12 months after starting on site. It’s been a privilege to work on this project and deliver this much-needed infrastructure that will connect the community.”
