Construction Management is the highest circulation construction-based publication serving the UK built environment.
Video
Video: Specialist divers pour underwater concrete to protect viaducts
Neil Gerrard Associate editor
https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/hkjimc2tuu
Specialist divers have poured around 900t of concrete to protect two major railway viaducts for Network Rail.
The work came after laser surveys revealed that fast-flowing water on the River Eden in Carlisle had caused parts of the riverbed to wash away, posing a risk to the foundations of two viaducts on the West Coast main line.
Trains have been running at reduced speeds of 20mph over the Victorian and 1940s-built structures because of the riverbed erosion.
This is not a paywall. Registration allows us to enhance your experience across Construction Management and ensure we deliver you quality editorial content.
Registering also means you can manage your own CPDs, comments, newsletter sign-ups and privacy settings.
A LIDAR scan of the River Eden (Image courtesy of Network Rail)
Divers from Scour Protection helped to pour the concrete to provide a stable platform for the viaducts’ columns and piers. Water visibility in the River Eden is particularly poor, with a lot of the work done by touch alone. More than 2,200 tonnes of rock has also been placed in the river temporarily to calm the waters and divert its flow so the divers can work below the surface.
Once the first phase of work is complete in the next few weeks, trains will be able to run at full speed of 100mph over the viaducts.
Aerial view of the River Eden viaducts (Image courtesy of Network Rail)
Chris Pye, Network Rail infrastructure director for the North West, said: “It’s not every day you call in diving teams to help improve railway lines, but this work is essential to keep passenger and freight trains moving on the West Coast main line over the River Eden in Carlisle.
“After using the latest laser mapping technology to give detailed scans of the riverbed we brought this work forward so we could secure this crucial rail link between England and Scotland for the winter ready for the second phase of work next summer.”
The second phase of viaduct strengthening work will take place in summer 2022 as a permanent fix to the riverbed erosion.
The November/December 2025 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
Powered Access
CM, in partnership with IPAF, has launched a new survey to explore the industry’s views and experiences with powered access machines on construction projects.
This is not a first step towards a paywall. We need readers to register with us to help sustain creation of quality editorial content on Construction Management. Registering also means you can manage your own CPDs, comments, newsletter sign-ups and privacy settings. Thank you.
