Watkin Road Bridge, Leicester

The Watkin Road Bridge project included the installation of a new bridge and the demolition and removal of an existing bridge, which was then replaced with a new one.

The project involved a comprehensive scope of activities for the enhancement and reconstruction of the public highway, including temporary traffic management, general site clearance, excavation of existing surface areas, drainage works, paving and kerbing works, installation of new street furniture, and removal of redundant furniture.

Project Overview

We constructed two bridges, starting with the first while keeping the old one in use. Once the first bridge was complete, we diverted traffic onto it, demolished the old bridge, and then built the second bridge.

The project also encompassed alterations to traffic signals, street lighting, road signs, and road markings, accompanied by general resurfacing works to the highway surrounding the bridge.

We managed and coordinated the utility diversions for water, gas, electricity, BT, and sewer mains to facilitate the construction of two bridges. Preventative ground probing was carried out for the second bridge to ensure no obstructions hindered its foundations.

Working within a constrained site near a wide river, with no access beneath the newly built structures, required a bespoke temporary works solution to support prefabricated parapet beams near another existing bridge. Regular meetings with the highways authority and stakeholders were crucial in coordinating the project, including planning major craneage for the nighttime installation of parapet beams.

Phased work was carefully organised to minimise traffic disruption, while pedestrian access remained unrestricted, which was vital due to the nearby Leicester City Football Stadium. The project achieved the highest Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) score and received the Leading Lights National Award for its outstanding diversity contribution. We also achieved more than 25% Social Local Economic Value, more than doubling our SLEV target.

The Watkin Road Bridge project was also highly commended by the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) for the Engineering Challenge Award. This CIHT award recognised our “technical excellence, innovative solutions, and transformative activities in solving a particularly challenging engineering problem: keeping our transport system safe, resilient, more efficient, and sustainable through excellent practice, highly innovative technical solutions, and commitment to the profession.”