The final section of the Gull Wing Bridge in Lowestoft is being installed.
The bascule span is 39.5m long, 22m wide and 35m tall and will weigh approx. 1120 tonnes when positioned. This is made up of 750 tonnes of permanent structural steelwork and an additional 370 tonnes of temporary ballast to ensure the bridge stability during installation.
An additional counterweight of heavyweight concrete will be placed within the J-beams during the installation and commissioning phase of approx. 380 tonnes resulting in the total weight of the bridge during operation being approx. 1100 tonnes.
The bridge will sit clear of the highest tide by 12m, meaning that the tips of the J-beams will usually be well over 50m above the sea below. When the bridge is rolled back in the open position, the end of the bridge span that carries the road will be over 60m above the tide below.
The completed bascule bridge will be the largest rolling bascule bridge in the world lifted using hydraulic cylinders.
Video credit: CHPV