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BRIDGE BEARINGS
The Cootes Lane Bridge in Kilkenny is a key infrastructure development under Kilkenny’s Active Travel Scheme, enhancing pedestrian and cycling connectivity between Cootes Lane and the Ring Road. Designed by Kilgallen & Partners Consulting Engineers Ltd and installed by Donnelly Civil Engineering Ltd, the 16.5m span steel bridge was lifted into position using a 110t mobile crane.
The project supports the concept of a ’10-minute city’, promoting sustainable and accessible transport options for local residents and schoolchildren. SDG contributed to the project by supplying Bridge Bearings, essential for ensuring structural stability and longevity.
The Cootes Lane Bridge was designed to provide a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution for Kilkenny’s Active Travel Plan. Given the steel-concrete structure, the project required bridge bearings that could accommodate movement, absorb loads, and prevent structural wear over time.
Key engineering challenges included:
SDG provided Gumba Reinforced Elastomeric Bridge Bearings Type B1, an engineered solution for optimised load transfer and movement absorption. These bearings, constructed with reinforced steel sheets fully encapsulated in elastomer, offered key benefits:
Gumba bridge bearings ensured that the steel structure could sit securely on the concrete supports, preventing excessive stress on either component while maintaining smooth movement functionality. Donnelly Civil Engineering Ltd. successfully integrated these bearings into the bridge structure, ensuring a precise and efficient installation process.
The installation of SDG’s Gumba Bridge Bearings contributed to the structural integrity and longevity of the Cootes Lane Bridge. Key outcomes include:
This project highlights SDG’s expertise in supplying high-performance bridge bearings for civil infrastructure projects, ensuring reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness over the bridge’s lifecycle. SDG was proud to support Donnelly Civil Engineering Ltd. in delivering this vital piece of Kilkenny’s transport infrastructure.
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