Originally Built in 1855, Westfield Viaduct has been unused to rail traffic since 1967. Vegetation and corrosion have had a detrimental effect on the listed structure over the years, resulting in the bridge being cordoned off and declared unsafe.
At the end of 2021 and into 2022, a programme of refurbishment work was undertaken to conduct some essential masonry repairs to the structure and replace the damaged steel pattress plates. Millar Callaghan were awarded the contract to replace the damaged and broken pattress plates and tie rods which bind the structure together at the top of the sixteen arches along the 200-meter length of the bridge.
A detailed survey was conducted to not only identify the areas of the bridge which would need attention, but also to accurately dimension and detail the ornate steel cast iron plates. This would ensure that the new replacement plates would exactly match the existing structure and bring the bridge back to its former glory. Once the plates had been surveyed, fabrication work started at our Irvine workshop to manufacture the new plates and tie rods.
A spider crane was positioned on top of the viaduct to assist with the removal of the old, and installation of the new, pattress plates. Elevated access platforms were used to access both the outside face and the underside of the arch to remove and install steelwork. Highly trained personnel were appointed to safely remove the existing cracked and damaged pattress plates, to ensure that they did not break apart during removal. With the old plates removed, the new plates and tie rods could be installed and torqued up into position. A fresh coat of paint was applied to freshen up both the new and existing steelwork.
