Birse Rail, in joint venture with sister company Birse Civils, is currently working on phase 2 of the Selly Oak New Road project for Birmingham City Council.
The new road will relieve chronic congestion on the A38 through Selly Oak, a major commuter route into Birmingham city centre and Birmingham University, and will release valuable land for redevelopment.
The project involves the construction of approximately 600m of new single carriageway through a brownfield site and around 400m of reconstruction and realignment to the existing A38. It also includes the demolition of two significant industrial buildings and the construction of three new structures along the Bourn Brook to enable the realignment and new road construction (being undertaken by Birse Civils).
Birse Rail is responsible for the design and construction of a new railway bridge and a new 70m insitu concrete aqueduct, including the temporary diversion of the Birmingham to Worcester canal.
The new 70m three span railway bridge was constructed off-line on a temporary 10m high embankment before being transported into position using self propelled modular transporters during a 100 hour possession over Christmas 2010. The new structure carries the Birmingham to Gloucester line across a 15m deep cutting to contain the new road.
Alternative solution
The original tender for this project involved the construction of a tunnel to take the new road under the railway and the canal. However, Birse Rail developed an alternative design solution involving the removal of the existing embankment and the construction of two individual bridges to carry the railway line and canal over the new road.
The main advantages of the twin bridges approach were:
- A more economic solution
- Mitigation of a number of key risks
- No ongoing running costs (lighting and ventilation)
- A more aesthetically pleasing solution
- Established installation techniques
- Reduced programme duration
This solution was considered by the client to be more attractive to look at and also had the advantage of costing less to maintain. The solution was also welcomed by Network Rail and the British Waterways Board.
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