River Medway Bridge Refurbishment
Using a modular pontoon barge access system and supporting vessel, Kaymac civils division team were able to carry out masonry repairs to River Medway Bridge, without affecting the disruptions to Rail line.
The works involved re-casing of spalled brickwork and masonry, stitching of fractures to both brickwork and masonry and concrete repairs to two of the pier bullnose capping stones. As the River Medway is tidal and navigable at the bridge site, it was necessary to carry out the works from floating plant. A 20m long x 8m wide barge was assembled on site from sectional pontoons, complete with 12m spud legs for the works around the pier elevations in the main channel and a set of 8m legs for accessing the shallower water at the abutments.
As well as the tidal range of six metres to consider, the stability and suitability of the barge to withstand the ten knot ebb tides had to be calculated prior to mobilisation to site. The barge was then subjected to testing for two complete tidal cycles with a tug attached to ensure it would remain on station during the spring ebb tides.
