Allerdene Bridge - Gateshead

USL Ekspan has been instrumental in the refurbishment of the Allerdene Bridge on the A1 Gateshead Western Bypass near the Angel of the North. The Bridge carries traffic over the East Coast Main Line and is a main artery route through the North East of England when travelling up to Scotland.

USL Ekspan has been contracted previously by Balfour Beatty in Summer 2009 to undertake waterproofing and joint works to the southbound carriageway. During these repairs, the edge of the adjacent deck on the northbound side was found to be showing similar signs of deterioration. It was decided that similar repairs were required to the northbound carriageway and USL Ekspan was asked by AOne+, the managing agent for Area 14, to provide a complete package for the deck refurbishment works, which included:

• Removing the existing bitumen sheet waterproofing system
• Undertaking the breaking out of 10m³ failed concrete deck and repairing with Nufins' Nugrout HiSpec Repair Concrete
• Replacement of corroded reinforcement where necessary
• Installation of sacrificial anodes
• Application of USL Ekspan's Britdex MDP one-coat spray applied waterproofing membrane and F.E hot-melt bond coat Installation of Dri-Deck subsurface drainage system
• Installation of two Britflex BEJ 8 and two FEBA HM flexible plug joint systems

Works were planned for the school summer holidays, commencing on 15th July 2013 with completion by 22nd August 2013 under two phases, phase 1 being hard shoulder and lane one and phase 2 being lane two.

Within this period there were approximately 32 days where only one lane would be open in a southbound direction. The volume of traffic carried by the road (around 100,000 vehicles per day) meant that it was essential that works were completed on time.

Works were programmed to take place 24 hours a day, utilising lane closures between the hours of 0600 and 2000 and full road closures at night.

With the live railway below the structure and overhead line equipment energised to 25,000 volts fitted to the soffit of the centre span deck and to bridge supports, hydro-demolition was not permitted as an option for removing concrete because of the volume of water required for this type of operation, so all breaking out was to be undertaken by hand.

Above: Exposed Concrete Deck and Anodes

Above: Concrete Repairs

Above: Britdex MDP Spray Applied Waterproofing Application

 Above: FE Tack Coat Application

For more information please contact  +44 (0) 113 8418861 or email info@uslekspan.com