Quarry Road Bridge

Quarry Road Bridge now open! 14 October 2008

Martyn Whalley, Deputy Director of Capital Procurement for the University of Bath, said: “We are delighted the new Quarry Road bridge is now in place.  The new bridge once again links existing public and University footpaths around the perimeter of our campus creating a fantastic recreational resource for the whole community.   The grounds are of great amenity value and appreciated by staff, students and local residents alike.

Professor Kevin Edge, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who made a short opening speech before cutting the ribbon. Representatives from local residents' associations, and from walkers and ramblers associations joined some of the contractors and University of Bath employees to celebrate the official opening.

The replacement of the old bridge was complicated by the need to protect surrounding vegetation and wildlife, as well as the protected geological rock formations it rests upon. There is a badger set close to the bridge abutment and the cutting contains many wild flowers and species.  The rock cutting which the new bridge spans, was formed when the University was developed over 40 years ago, and is known as Quarry Road.  In 1990 English Nature, now Natural England, acknowledged the important geological features which are exposed by the cutting and the feature was cited as a Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI.  The citation reads 'This is the best exposure of plateau-deposits in the Bath Area'.  Constructing a new bridge which did not involve substantial works to the geological feature for bridge abutments/foundations was a challenge, and this was overcome by drilling rock bolts into existing foundations. 

We are grateful for the design teams assistance, particularly FMH,  Civil and Structural  Engineers, of Bath.  We would also like to thank Dave Lucey Limited of Frome for their high level of construction and customer service to allow facilitation of this difficult civil engineering project with minimal disruption to the campus and the surroundings. 

Tuesday 2 September 2008 - The new bridge is delivered to campus!

The bridge arrived safely this morning and has been lowered into position.

Work will continue securing the bridge throughout the week. Quarry Road has been re-opened to traffic; it may be necessary to introduce restrictions later in the week but if this proves necessary, a notice to that effect will be posted.

Its replacement has been complicated by the need to protect surrounding vegetation and wildlife, as well as the protected geological rock formations it rests upon.   There is a badger set close to the bridge abutment and the cutting contains many wild flowers and species.  The rock cutting which the new bridge spans was formed when the University was developed over 40 years ago, and is known as Quarry Road.  In 1990 English Nature, now Natural England, acknowledged the important geological features which are  exposed by the cutting and the feature was cited as a Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI.  The citation reads 'This is the best exposure of plateau-deposits in the Bath Area'.  Constructing a new bridge which did not involve substantial works to the geological feature for bridge abutments/ foundations was a challenge, and the was overcome by drilling rock bolts into existing foundations.  We are grateful for the design teams assistance, particularly FMH,  Civil and Structural engineers, of Bath.  We would also like to thank Dave Lucey Limited of Frome for their high level of construction and customer service to allow facilitate this difficult civil engineering project with minimal disruption to the campus and the surroundings.  The bridge will be officially opened by the Vice Chancellor on 14 October 2008 and a plaque will be made to mark the opening of the bridge.

Road closure -  week commencing Monday 1 September 2008

The University's Department of Estates, in conjunction with consulting engineers FMH of Bath, is now planning the installation phase for the Quarry Road Bridge replacement.

Following recent consultations on dates for a road closure, Estates  now confirm that Quarry Road will be closed from midnight on Sunday 31st August 2008 until 06:30 on Thursday 4 September 2008 at the latest to facilitate the installation of the new pedestrian footbridge. The main Contractor, Dave Lucey Limited, will endeavour to reduce this period if at all possible. Previous consultations relating to the installation taking place during week commencing 25 August 2008 indicated that the works would clash with the UK School Games the date has consequently been changed to 1 September 2008.

During the contract period it will be necessary to employ traffic restrictions on the road to only allow one carriageway to operate at a time. The route will be controlled by traffic lights at these times.

The Quarry Road entrance has never been the preferred access to the campus but once the new bridge is installed, height restrictions will mean that the entrance will not be suitable for HGV vehicles. In addition the road is normally closed at the junction with North Road during the evening.

Currently the bridge is at the painters, having left CTS Bridges' fabrication works in Abbey Road, Shepley, Huddersfield. That process will take almost 3 weeks and the bridge will shortly begin its journey, under police escort, to arrive at the University Campus for installation. Two photographs are attached of the new bridge at CTS Bridges works.

Estates will endeavour to minimise disruption as far as possible, but we would appreciate drivers' patience during the traffic restrictions, and closure period.  If you have any queries please contact Colin Edmans, or Martyn Whalley in Estates.

Original announcement ....

The University's Department of Estates, in conjunction with consulting engineers FMH of Bath, is currently entering the detailed planning stages for the Quarry Road Bridge replacement.

B&NES confirmed the granting of planning permission on 26 March 2008 and tenders have already been secured for the steelwork fabrication and installation. Local civil contractors are currently tendering the construction and site set up requirements, with tenders expected back by the end of April.

A draft programme can be viewed here but currently Estates are planning to close the road from the end of business on Wednesday 20 August 2008 until 06:30 on Wednesday 27 August 2008 at the latest. Once contractors have been appointed it is hoped that the period can be condensed to a minimum within this window (21/8/08- 26/08/08). Initial consultations have indicated that this closure period would not seriously inconvenience the University's operations. It is anticipated that the Contractors will work on the Bank Holiday Monday (25 August 2008) and the University discretionary day, Tuesday 26 August. However, we would appreciate any comments from the University community on these dates.

In addition, during the contract period it will be necessary to employ traffic restriction on the road which will only allow one carriageway at a time to operate. The route will be controlled by traffic lights at these times. This access will not be suitable for HGV vehicles at any time owing to height restrictions, and is not the favoured access to the University Campus for delivery vehicles. In addition the road is normally closed at the junction with North Road during the evening.

Please click here to see proposed plan of footbridge.

Consultation on road closure (21/8/08 to 27/08/08)

The Department of Estates, in conjunction with consulting engineers FMH of Bath, is currently entering the detailed planning stages for the replacement of the Quarry Road Bridge and would like to ensure that the University at large is aware of the programme.

It is planned that Quarry Road will be closed to traffic for a period of a few days some time between Wednesday 20 August and Wednesday 27 August 2008 to allow for the installation of the new bridge.

The Department of Estates has already received some feedback which has been incorporated into the programme; this is a final request for anything additional about activities which may conflict with the planned road closure. If your department has anything planned which may involve use of the Quarry Road entrance, would you please advise Martyn Whalley, Deputy Director, by email by no later than 28 April 2008.

B&NES confirmed the granting of planning permission on 26 March 2008 and tenders have already been secured for the steelwork fabrication and installation. Local civil contractors are currently tendering the construction and site set up requirements, with tenders expected back by the end of April.

A draft programme can be viewed here but as mentioned above, currently Estates are planning to close the road from the end of business on Wednesday 20 August 2008 until 06:30 on Wednesday 27 August 2008 at the latest. Once contractors have been appointed it is hoped that the period can be condensed to a minimum within this window (21/8/08-26/08/08). Initial consultations have indicated that this closure period would not seriously inconvenience the University's operations. It is anticipated that the Contractors will work on the Bank Holiday Monday (25 August 2008) and the University discretionary day, Tuesday 26 August. However, we would appreciate any comments from the University community on these dates.

In addition, during the contract period it will be necessary to employ traffic restriction on the road which will only allow one carriageway at a time to operate. The route will be controlled by traffic lights at these times. This access will not be suitable for HGV vehicles at any time owing to height restrictions, and is not the favoured access to the University Campus for delivery vehicles. In addition the road is normally closed at the junction with North Road during the evening.

Please click here to see proposed plan of footbridge.

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