TPA roadway keeps Network Rail on track

1 September 2023

Temporary roadways supplied by specialist hirer TPA have facilitated a bridge demolition project and reduced the contractor’s carbon footprint. 

The 3m-wide heavy duty aluminium panels panels helped Amco Giffen complete the first of two phases of the work for Network Rail and were used to protect grazing fields north of the Midland Main Line near Market Harborough, while the first of two bridges were demolished to make way for overhead electrification.

The three-span brick bridges, measuring 8m wide and 25m long, were originally built to carry livestock over the line but had become disused.

The demolition was carried on the north and south sides of the track by 25 and 35-tonne excavators at abutment level, with the lighter excavator vacating the south abutment prior to final trim. These were assisted by 7 and 15-tonne rubber-tracked excavators at track level. Waste materials were loaded onto two dumper trucks for removal and re-use.

TPA’s panels on this phase were doubled up to allow access for low loader deliveries but on the second phase, due to start 300m away on 23 September, Amco Giffen will only need to use 4m-wide panels as the plant will already be on site.

Amco Giffen sub-agent James Callaghan said the panels were specified over aggregate for two reasons. 

“They helped the programme by reducing the amount of time we needed temporary access as they are so quick and easy to install and the land does not need reinstating afterwards. 

“Using TPA panels also saved 52.54 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to what would have been generated by the 100 wagons of aggregate, compared to three wagons of aluminium panels.”