The Efficient Demolition of a Bridge Over a Motorway

After months of planning and detailed communications, teams working on the M6 junction 13 to 15 smart motorway project in Stafford, successfully demolished Burton Bank Footbridge on the night of Saturday 23 March in just under 12 hours.

The project team worked throughout the night to prepare and demolish the bridge and then undertake a massive clean-up operation to make sure the motorway was open to traffic by at least lunchtime the next day.

The stakeholder team delivered a large communications exercise to advise of the closure. Almost 600 customers were contacted through a priority stakeholder email list, including: Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, Staffordshire County and Borough Councils, Stoke City Council, local Councillors and MPs. Letters were issued to nearly 6,000 stakeholders along the diversion route and proximity of the demolition. Port authorities were contacted as were all national football clubs playing matches. The Road Haulage Association were informed, and research undertaken to contact places of worship, shopping centres, the National Exhibition Centre, Alton Towers plus many more.

The Staffordshire 10K run was scheduled to commence at 10am on Sunday 23 September and liaison with event organisers meant that all 2,500 race goers received an information leaflet in their member pack. Posters and leaflets were produced and distributed by the team to petrol stations and leisure facilities along the diversion route.

Live pictures on the HE Twitter feed were provided with Drone technology and a bulk text system set up. A Dover to Carlise signing strategy was implemented; significantly reducing traffic counts and congestion on the night.

To find out more, watch the video below.