The scheme consisted of vital safety improvements to Derby Street Bridge in Ormskirk town centre, which carries the A570 over the railway line linking Preston and Liverpool. Derby Street Railway Bridge was built in 1848 and was not designed to support modern traffic. The works which included stitching the arch rings with the installation of stainless-steel dowels and grouting any voids within the arch barrel, were needed to make it safer and strengthen the bridge. Additionally, other works on the structure included rebuilding and raising the masonry parapets to a height of 1.8m with the introduction of a heritage-style railing. Due to two of the structures being over 3rd party assets, close coordination and communication with the Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust were necessary throughout the project.

The majority of the strengthening works were conducted during night time railway possessions. We successfully managed and executed a total of 90 railway possessions, collaborating closely with Network Rail and third-party stakeholders, including Merseytravel and Northern Rail, who were engaged throughout the scheme.
The existing footpaths on the bridge were too narrow for pedestrians to use safely, and the narrow traffic lanes increased the risk of collisions. This posed a potential threat to the bridge itself and could affect the safety of the railway running underneath. To address these safety concerns, the layout of the bridge was altered to convert the current two lanes of traffic into a single lane. This change allowed for the widening of the footpaths. The project included improvements such as curbing, paving, surfacing, and the installation of new signage throughout the area.

Added value and innovation

Although the project did not have any specified requirements for social value, we proactively reached out to the local Emmanuel Methodist Church to explore opportunities for giving back to the community. During our conversation, we learned that the church lacked sufficient funding to build a community garden on its grounds. In response, we decided to construct the garden for them. This initiative enabled the church to start a project that provides patients from Scarisbrick Mental Health with a place of refuge in the community garden, where they can plant food and vegetables to donate to the local food bank.