Osbourne Street Bridge - 132kV

Phase 1 of the project was to temporarily divert a 132kV oil circuit crossing a Network Rail bridge, allowing the bridge to be demolished and rebuilt offering a higher clearance for Network Rail’s electrification of the Liverpool to Manchester line. 

Phase 2 removed the temporary diversion and install a permanent circuit in the new bridge. Excalon worked on behalf of ENWL in conjunction with J Murphy & Son, who were contracted for the temporary cable bridge and pedestrian walkway, and the removal and rebuilding of Osbourne Street Bridge. SDR17 high density ducting was installed above ground within the temporary bridge over the railway.  This allowed the circuit to be diverted between Torkington Rd and a nearby school playing field, which required full close board hoarding around the site and temporary roadway. Excalon completed the civil works duct installation, which included multiple configurations of cross sections required to allow the diversions of pilots and other electricity asset cables coming from different directions.

Phase 2 was completed in 2014, requiring the re-excavation of joint bays, removal of temporary cable and ducting over the railway, and the final installation of the permanent circuits.

The scheme included:

• Full timber shuttered joint bays at 3m depth with concrete flooring, roof and scaffolding for gantry winch.
• Cable installation and sheath testing.
• Oil flushing of cable.
• Provision of temporary works design.
• CDM site
• 24 hour manned security at joint bay locations.