An award-winning project to restore a storm-damaged footbridge, where engagement and collaboration were instrumental in helping to reconnect the community and protect wildlife.
Client
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Highlights
- Winner of the Active Travel Project of the Year award at NCE Bridges 2024
- Restoring and future-proofing a vital community bridge over the River Ely
- Reducing carbon emissions by 15% in support of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Carbon Neutral 2030 target
BakerHicks were appointed by Balfour Beatty as lead designer on a Design & Build project for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council in South Wales, to design and deliver remediation works at the former Tyn-y-Bryn footbridge, which crosses the River Ely in Tonyrefail.
The chosen design features a light-weight fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) deck solution, combined with a localised ground improvement system using injected geopolymers to improve the ground bearing. This innovative and robust solution makes it one of the first Active Travel Bridges in South Wales to employ such technology, especially next to a main river. Additionally, locally sourced blockstone was used to form river protection, weirs and cascades to help mitigate future storm damage.
The work was meticulously planned to avoid critical breeding seasons. Construction Environmental Management Plans were developed to minimise environmental and ecological constraints on the site, creating a habitat that allows local wildlife to thrive post-completion. BakerHicks conducted surveys to monitor the impact of the works and streamline the delivery timeline.
This project not only restored an essential community link but also set a new standard for sustainable and innovative bridge construction in South Wales.
Services
-
Civil & Structural
-
Ground engineering
Other projects
