The 35-metre long plates have been installed under the cantilever section of the existing approach ramp slab in order to accommodate the 125 tonne MAFI trailers and extra traffic accessing the facility’s roll-on, roll-off berths.

The contract forms part of a £9.6m, forty-week design and build project to construct additional berthing amenities and satiate the ever-increasing demand at this very successful facility.

Various strengthening options were considered, including steel brackets, but the Sika system was chosen due to its ease of use, cost-effectiveness and speed of installation. The design specification, construction, supervision and monitoring of the work was operated in accordance with the Concrete Society technical notes TR55 and TR57.

The UK has recently witnessed an increasing requirement for the strengthening and upgrading of many structures and CRL has established itself in the thick of the action. The introduction of heavier vehicles has meant that the entire UK bridge stock has, or is being, structurally reassessed for the new 40 tonne loading. In the main, the increased demand has been brought about through the need to accommodate increased loading, but in some instances it has been due to concrete failure, inadequate design, poor quality construction, structural and fire damage etc.