TROUBLED WATER FOR BALLACHULISH BRIDGE

This brief article describes the method used to replace a 1.5M dia., 2500 ton capacity bridge bearing which failed at the Ballachulish bridge over Loch Leven, Scotland. The trouble occurred at the south pier and the article describes the jacking procedures used to raise the deck off the pier and which were complicated by the presence of 18 rock anchors used to resist uplift of the span at that point. Much strengthening of the deck was required before jacking was successfully accomplished using four 1000 ton capacity jacks. The article states that tests are being carried out on the remaining three bearings in the bridge in order to assess their condition. /TRRL/