Adam Viaduct
Adam Viaduct | |
|---|---|
 A view of the viaduct before the construction of the Southgate road. | |
| Coordinates | 53°32′28″N2°38′52″W/ 53.54098°N 2.64765°W |
| Carries | Kirkby branch line |
| Crosses | River Douglas, A49 Southgate link |
| Heritage status | Grade IIlisted building |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Prestressed concrete |
| Total length | 120 feet (37 m) |
| Width | 29 feet 9 inches (9.07 m) |
| No.of spans | 4 |
| Rail characteristics | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge |
| History | |
| Designer | William Kelly Wallace |
| Engineering design by | London, Midland & Scottish |
| Constructed by | Leonard Fairclough Ltd |
| Construction end | May 1946 |
| Replaces | 1847 timber bridge of the same name |
| Location | |
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TheAdam Viaductis a grade IIlistedconcrete underbridge in Wallgate,Wigan.The bridge, constructed in 1946, is the earliest 'post-tensioned'prestressed concreterailway bridge in theUnited Kingdom,with only some examples inSwitzerlandbeing earlier.[1][2]It is bridge number 54 on theKirkby branch lineand is at a line distance of 18 miles 1,032 yards (29.91 km).[3]
History and construction
[edit]
The bridge was constructed as atest case,to see if prestressed concrete construction was feasible for rail projects in the UK, by theLMS railway company,and designed by their chief civil engineerWilliam Kelly Wallace.[4][5]The beams used were prestressed using theFreyssinetsystem, in which concrete is precast with stressed high-tensile-strength metal tendons, which consist of multiple steel wires, running down the length of them. In construction, the beams internal rods are tightened and tied together so, under live load, they act as one. The LMS developed this system in the 1930s, and prestressed beams were first used for emergency repairs duringWorld War II,but the Adam Viaduct first to use them for a full-scale project.[1]The benefits of the system were found to be that it was quicker to install, more economical and longer-lasting, and with the bridge being less lively than traditional designs.[4][6]
The bridge has sixI-beamsfor each track and two beams for eachparapet,and they are 2 feet 8 inches (0.81 m) deep.[5]It was erected in 1946 on the foundations of an earlierVictorianbridge, created as part of theLiverpool & Bury Railwayin 1847, which was made fromtimberwith masonryabutments.[4]The earlier bridge was strengthened three times in: 1869, 1888 and 1906.[5]
Southgate
[edit]
Southgate, a bypass of theA49from Pottery Road and Saddle Junction, passes underneath the bridge and next to theRiver Douglas.The road, which officially opened in March 2013, was constructed to reduce traffic in the area.[7]
References
[edit]- ^abHistoric England."Adam Viaduct (1061327)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved17 August2018.
- ^James Sutherland; R. J. M. Sutherland; Dawn Humm; Mike Chrimes (2001).Historic Concrete: Background to Appraisal.p. 254,258.ISBN9780727728753.
- ^"Adam Viaduct Viaduct".The ABC Railway Guide.Retrieved17 August2018.
- ^abcR. L. M'ilmoyle (20 September 1947)."Prestressed Concrete Bridge Beams Being Tested in England".Railway Age.Vol. 123. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company. pp. 54–58.
- ^abcRobert William Rennison (1996).Civil Engineering Heritage: Northern England.Thomas Telford. p. 239.ISBN978-0-7277-2518-9.
- ^"History of Prestressed Concrete in UK".Cambridge University.2004. Archived fromthe originalon 25 August 2018.Retrieved27 January2019.
- ^"New road relief".Wigan Today.27 November 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 25 April 2019.Retrieved17 August2018.
External links
[edit]
- Pre-stressed Concrete Railway Structures
- History of Concrete BridgesArchived14 December 2013 at theWayback Machine
| Authority control databases:Geographic |
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