Hydraulic cylinders support London’s newest moveable bridge

11 September, 2019

The single leaf bascule bridge, linking Montgomery Square and Canary Wharf’s new district, Wood Wharf, presented a host of interesting technical challenges, not least with the Jubilee Line running parallel to the new bridge and below the waterway.

As part of this project, Canary Wharf Contractors Limited awarded Qualter, Hall & Company Limited the contract for the design, manufacture, delivery, site installation and commissioning of the 28 m span Bascule Bridge. Qualter Hall’s full scope of work includes the complete bridge structure, mechanical parts and the operating system comprising hydraulic power pack, two lift cylinders, pipework, cabling, electric/electronic controls, etc.

Appointed by Qualter Hall, Dana SAC UK Ltd was tasked to specify and supply the hydraulic cylinders crucial for the raising of the 185ft bridge deck which was installed after a 36-hour voyage across the North Sea from the Belgian fabricator.

Designed by engineers COWI and Knight Architects, the new bridge – supporting road and pedestrian traffic while still allowing waterway access – demonstrates the architects’ vision, matching engineering constraints with the ‘beautiful ordinary’ and reflecting the high-quality public realm surrounding the structure.

COWI engineer Vlad Opanasiuk said: "The deck needs to be light enough to be raised but strong enough to support the crossing vehicles and pedestrians. We therefore selected an orthotropic steel deck solution, which is lighter and more flexible than a concrete one, significantly reducing the power required to raise it.”

The mechanical parts and steel structure of the bridge are only visible when in the raised position, achieved through twin Ø590/320 x 3341 mm stroke hydraulic cylinders supplied by Dana SAC UK, and located underneath the eastern end of the steel span.

Charles Lambert, area sales manager for Dana SAC UK, said: “Within Dana we have an exceptional range of products under the Brevini Motion Systems brand as well as access to our wider supply chain, benefitting our clients and ensuring that we can specify and deliver the most appropriate solutions however complex and challenging the engineering requirements.”

www.brevini.co.uk