BARRY ISLAND VIADUCT

Client:
Centregreat

Project Type:
Strengthening

Barry Island Viaduct is an 18 span steel structure with one track carrying normal passenger trains to and from Barry Island Station and a second track
carrying the Barry Tourist Line heritage railway.

The structure was originally constructed in 1896 from early steel with longitudinal sleepers bearing directly onto the steel deck rather than a traditional ballasted track. The intended articulation of the structure is uncertain but has a very significant effect on the way the bridge is analysed.

A previous assessment had identified that the structure was not capable of sustaining the trains permitted to use it. The outline strengthening scheme presented at tender stage was very problematic and expensive to implement. Crouch Waterfall reanalysed the structure developed an alternative, more practical, economic strengthening scheme during the tender period and were awarded the project.

The strengthening design involved the replacement of bearing stiffeners, deck plates, cantilever walkway components and bracings as well as numerous repairs due to dilapidation. Crouch Waterfall undertook the post grit blast surveys and developed practical repairs for the numerous defects identified, while staying sympathetic to the
structural form and age of the bridge, providing a structure which met the required line capacity.

Repair works were predominantly designed to enable trains to continue operating normally.