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The IABSE British Group is delighted to be able to offer a site visit to the Renfrew Bridge, following the Bridges Scotland Conference and hosted by Hardesty and Hannover.
Project Background
The Renfrew bridge is a 184-meter double-leaf bobtail cable-stayed swing bridge connecting Renfrew to Clydebank and Yoker. The crossing is the centrepiece of the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside (CWRR) project, which will transform the waterfront and improve access to jobs, education, hospitals, and leisure pursuits. The bridge will also create new connections into Scotland’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMIDS). Featuring an asymmetric or “bobtail” arrangement with 65-meter forward spans and 27-meter back spans, the bridge will carry vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians on two carriageways and two pedestrian footpaths. The steel superstructure spans are gear-driven, hydraulically powered, and open at a 110° angle. The pivots feature 6.7-meter-diameter slewing bearings. The forward steel superstructure is supported by cable-stays anchored to steel pylons and a counterweighted back span.
Technical details
Each span on The River Clyde Bridge is 92 meters, which makes it one of the largest double-leaf bobtail swing bridges in the world. One design decision that allowed H&H to achieve the massive span was to use an orthotropic deck to reduce the dead load. The cable stay system extends the superstructure support vertically which makes the bridge significantly lighter. The slewing bearing positioned underneath the structure is normally used within the crane industry. Here, the system is made to accommodate a heavy balance load. H&H opted to repurpose a slewing bearing from Tyson Krupp, a German firm that manufactures large-scale industrial equipment.
A sustainable facet to the project was the installation process. By floating in bridge segments from Belgium, the surrounding region and native ecosystem were not affected by lorries transporting large components. The bridge materials were fabricated in Belgium in a well-ventilated warehouse with controlled conditions. There was no disruption to Glaswegian neighbourhoods due to fabrication, paint, and assembly of the bridge. The bridge is powered by a hydraulic motor system, and the team uses biodegradable hydraulic fluid.
Attendance
Attendance is strictly limited, so please only apply for a ticket if you are able to attend. We will maintain a waiting list so if you are unable to attend please let us know and we will cancel your ticket and offer it to others. You will need to bring appropriate PPE: hard hat, high visibility vest, boots, gloves and glasses.
Due to the state of construction it is unlikely to be possible to coordinate a swing of the bridge with the visit.
