Major structural refurbishments mark M50's Golden anniversary

摘要

Frequent flooding beside the M50 near Tewkesbury has not dampened the spirits of contractors working to rebuild two motorway viaducts. Structures along one of England's oldest and more rural motorways, the M50 linking the M5 to Ross on Wye in Herefordshire, are being rebuilt and renewed as the route marks its 50th anniversary year. Two viaducts carrying the motorway over separate water courses are being reconstructed and several bridges along the route are being strengthened after concrete had begun to spall from the structures, exposing steel reinforcement. Highways Agency and its Area 9 managing agent contractor Amey are working on a series of schemes, packaged together in a ￡35M two year programme which completes next autumn. Central to the contract is the demolition and rebuilding of the Bushley and Ripple viaducts, one carriageway at a time. "There are four separate structures that make up the two viaducts and the construction detail is identical on all of them," says Amey construction team leader Chris Jones. "This is beneficial and means the forms we pour concrete into can be reused again and again."