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STRUCTURES
Low carbon prefabricated rail footbridge complete
Network Rail has opened the first of its new low carbon modular pedestrian bridges in Shropshire, replacing a dangerous level crossing.
Dubbed “Flow” – fibre reinforced polymer, lower cost, optimised design, working bridges – the structures are quick to erect, more sustainable and cheaper than conventional railway footbridges.
The Shropshire bridge is a prototype, has a 21m span and costs 40% less than an equivalent, traditional steel structure. The bridge uses a steel micropile Rapid Root foundation, which mimics tree roots and can be installed by hand, in place of concrete foundations. Most construction of the bridge elements took place off-site.
TRANSPORT
Seven net zero initiatives win government funding
Seven net zero-focused projects from Lanarkshire to Devon have won a total of £30M through the Department for Transport-funded Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads competition.
Projects include initiatives to cut carbon emissions from streetlights; produce asphalt from green waste; and changes to the design, construction and maintenance of typical UK highway construction.
The Decarbonising Local Roads competition is organised by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport.
ENERGY
Sizewell C heat could benefit lido in nearby Leiston
Waste heat from the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk could be used to heat a new lido in a nearby town. The concept features in the Leiston masterplan, which aims to transform the Suffolk town near to the nuclear power plant site.
The masterplan identifies “possible synergies/ shared facilities for example using waste heat from the plant for a lido at Sizewell”. It comes after EDF Energy appointed a design team made up of Egis, Jacobs UK, Setec TPI and Tractebel Engineering for the nuclear plant in December.
NET ZERO
Manchester park redeveloped with a low carbon focus
Manchester’s 2.6ha Mayfield Park has been transformed as part of a new £1.4bn regeneration project. Civic Engineers was the lead civil and structural engineer for the delivery stage of the project which required a carbon-saving focus on reusing the park’s historic structures.
The consultant specified the reuse of historic cast iron beams from a River Medlock culvert for the various new bridges on the site. The circular economy approach saved 36t of carbon and helped retain the site’s heritage.
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