Langton Alexandra Swing Bridge Refurbishment

Following Peel Ports’ decision to recommission the Langton Alexander Swing (LAS) Bridge, which had been out of service since 2010 due to a ship collision, Spencer Bridge Engineering were appointed to refurbish the structure and restore it to operational status. Working in close collaboration with Peel Ports and their design team, detailed investigations were undertaken to define the refurbishment scope. Based on these findings, the project team successfully delivered the full refurbishment and commissioning works, ensuring the bridge was brought back into service safely and efficiently.

Client

Peel Ports Group

Duration

24 months

Location

Liverpool

KEY STATISTICS

Years out of service before being re-commissioned

Bearings replaced / re-set

420

Tonne bridge weighing exercise to set the bridge balance

PROJECT SCOPE

The project involved a comprehensive series of work packages to restore the Langton Alexander Swing Bridge to full operational status. Initial activities included various investigations, surveys, and testing to inform the design, followed by trial movements of the bridge using an alternative temporary works hauling system. The entire bridge deck was weighed and rebalanced, with additional kentledge added to the tail to achieve a controlled balance state.

A major component of the refurbishment was the overhaul and refurbishment of the hydraulic system responsible for opening and closing the bridge. During investigations, severely corroded holding- down bolts were discovered, necessitating the demolition and reconstruction of the concrete plinth supporting the twin hydraulic cylinders. Structural repairs were also carried out, including fixing cracked welds and replacing missing bolts identified during testing.

Mechanical upgrades included the replacement of tail rollers, intermediate bearings, and nose bearings. The bridge deck was re-profiled to improve surface water runoff, which had been compromised by the original ship collision, and then waterproofed and resurfaced. To address alignment issues caused by deck distortion, the nose landing plinth and off-ramp were realigned.

Safety and operational enhancements were implemented through the installation of machinery guarding, interlocked pedestrian gates, and vehicle barriers. The control room building and its equipment were refurbished, and improvements were made to the sump pit drainage system to ensure reliable long-term performance.

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PROJECT OUTCOME

The bridge was recommissioned and opened to traffic in February 2025 after extensive trials and adjustments to the swinging mechanisms, the control and monitoring systems and the bearing seating interfaces.

Close collaboration between Spencer Bridge Engineering, Peel Ports and their designers enabled 24-hour, 7 day working to commission the structure, ensuring tight deadlines were achieved.