Doncaster Council

Current Update

Position at 5th March 2010

The Contractor appointed by the council to carry out the necessary works to Jubilee Bridge has, since the last information update, produced a programme for the works.

Currently the contractor is obtaining and fabricating all the required steelwork for the foundations and for the pier stabilizing works before transporting this to site to start the required works.
In the meantime the contractor is awaiting statutory consent from the Environment Agency for all temporary works and methods of work before the works can commence on site next to the river Don and on the flood plain.
Additionally the overhead telephone line near the bridge is to be temporarily diverted to enable the contractor to position piling plant for the foundation works.

This preparatory phase and consent is programmed to enable works to start on site in week commencing 22nd March, provided consent from the Environment Agency is not delayed and there are no other unexpected delays. The planned works are programmed to be completed in approximately 9 weeks from starting on site. 

Following a further thorough inspection of the bridge and barring any major delays due to unforeseen circumstances, extra work requirements, floods or high river levels, it is currently estimated that the works will be completed and the bridge reopened by July 2010 as originally estimated.

Regarding a new river Don crossing to eventually replace Jubilee Bridge - a preliminary feasibility study is on-going to consider possible crossing locations and highway options in the vicinity of Jubilee Bridge. Once the feasibility study is completed the council will have a preferred option for a crossing location and highway layout. It is the intention that this information will be made available to comment upon.

Once the optimum crossing point and road layout have been determined, options for a bridge to carry the highway across the river Don and flood plain can be considered. However, construction of a replacement river crossing will still depend upon obtaining all the necessary funding and approvals for such.

For further updates, the Council’s website is the best place to obtain the latest information www.doncaster.gov.uk, however, letters will continue to be sent to ensure those local residents who may not have access to the website are kept informed.  

Previous Updates

Position at 5th February 2010

The current position is that a contract was awarded on 26 January 2010 for the construction of the designed and approved foundation works, pier stabilisation works and minimum repairs to the existing bridge.

The appointed contractor is now obtaining all necessary approvals and preparing to commence works on site at the earliest opportunity.

Barring any major delays due to unforeseen circumstances, extra work requirements, floods or high river levels, it is currently estimated that the works will be completed before July 2010. The contractor is producing a specific work programme and when this is available specific dates can be predicted more accurately.

Regarding a new river Don crossing to eventually replace Jubilee Bridge - a preliminary feasibility study is on-going to consider possible crossing locations and highway options in the vicinity of Jubilee Bridge. Once the feasibility is completed the council will have a preferred option for a crossing location and highway layout. It is the intention that this information will be made available to comment upon. However, construction of a replacement river crossing will still depend upon obtaining all the necessary funding and approvals for such.

Position at 5th January 2010

The current position is that tenders have been invited for the construction of the designed and approved foundation works, pier stabilisation works and minimum repairs to the existing bridge.

Tenders are due for return in mid-January 2010 and will then be evaluated and considered by the council. It is then the intention to appoint a contractor before the end of January.

The appointed contractor will then carry out the necessary preparations and obtain all necessary approvals to commence works on site at the earliest opportunity.

Barring any major delays due to unforeseen circumstances, floods or high river levels, it is currently estimated that the works will be completed before July 2010.

Regarding a new river Don crossing to eventually replace Jubilee Bridge - a preliminary feasibility study is underway to look at possible crossing locations and highway options in the vicinity of Jubilee Bridge.

For further updates, the Council’s website is the best place to obtain the latest information. However letters will continue to be sent to ensure those local residents who may not have access to the website are kept informed.

Position at 5th December 2009

Further progress has been made on processes and procedures that need completing before engineering works can start on Jubilee Bridge.

The design of the works has now been agreed with the Environment Agency and formal consent for the works has been applied for as required by legislation.

Contractors will be invited to tender for the works in December as planned and a contract to carry out engineering works will be awarded in January 2010.

For further updates, the Council’s website is the best place for residents and businesses to obtain the latest information. However letters will continue to be sent to ensure those local residents who may not have access to the website are kept informed.

Position at November 5th 2009

For safety reasons, as already explained in previous information, the bridge cannot be reopened to vehicles until all the necessary work is completed. This means that engineering work to the bridge cannot start on site until all legislative, required processes and procedures have been completed. The council cannot short-cut through these requirements.

One important example of this is that the council cannot allow a contractor to start work on site until agreement and consent have been given by the Environment Agency (EA).

Currently the estimated programme shows that all these requirements should be completed by January 2010 to then enable engineering works to commence on site.

The length of time to complete the engineering works will depend upon the methods the appointed contractor uses, which will also have to be agreed with the EA. At present the council’s best estimate for a reopening date is July 2010.

Regarding the use of the bridge by vehicles heavier than the weight limit before the closure, all mandatory signage limiting use of the bridge has been in place for many years and has been maintained by the council. However the council as a highway authority does not control non-compliance with traffic mandatory signs by vehicle users.

1. The Council’s decision on the best way forward

Since Jubilee bridge has been closed, the Council has considered many alternative strategies towards providing a suitable, sustainable and affordable river crossing, while at the same time looking to deal with both the short term and long term needs of all the local communities, businesses and access requirements in the area. There are many conflicting views on the need for a crossing. A number of people are quite happy with the bridge being closed to vehicles, while others require a crossing that allows larger vehicles into the area. Some are concerned regarding emergency vehicular access into the area.

To satisfy the needs of local residents, the Council has decided to commit to constructing a new river crossing, subject to funding being identified. However, this will take a few years to plan and complete all the essential procedures and processes before construction can begin. 

In the meantime, the council has decided to carry out the minimum works required to re-stabilise Jubilee Bridge and make it safe for reopening to vehicles within the short-term. These minimum works will not be a full refurbishment of the bridge, but will allow the bridge to be safely used by vehicles up to three tonne gross weight (eg cars and light vans as before) until a new crossing is opened.

Based upon programming all requirements, actual construction work towards reopening of Jubilee Bridge is expected to start on site in January 2010.

2.  Why January 2010?

The bridge was closed to all vehicles on Friday 8 May 2009. This was following a period of observations on the deteriorating condition of sections of the bridge, while being used by vehicles. Since that date, the Council has been gathering information, and commencing the required processes and procedures.
These procedures are required for structural design purposes, compliance with Health and Safety Law, European Law and English Law, and access permissions, before any works can start on site.  Considerable progress has been made to date on most of the required processes and procedures.

All UK civil engineering and construction works have to go through such processes and procedures before any works can start on site.

Below are a few explanations.

Design. One major reason why the bridge is closed to vehicles is the instability of the foundations and the supporting piers in the river. Therefore, new foundations and supporting steelwork have to be designed and checked for structural compliance. As well as replacement of areas of the timber deck and steelwork these works are the minimum required to return the bridge to a position of being safe for use by up to three tonne vehicles.

To design the foundations we have to carry out a ground investigation requiring boreholes. For this, we have had to find out who owns land, gain access permission and obtain consent from the Environment Agency under the Land Drainage Act, because the required boreholes are in the River Don floodplain.  The ground investigation is being carried out by a private company.

Health and Safety Law, in particular the Construction, Design and Management Regulations require the council to consider alternative designs, to ensure works are safe to build, to reduce safety risks during construction, and risks to  the user and anyone maintaining or demolishing the bridge in the future. The scheme has to be registered with the Health and Safety Executive.

European Law requires that we check to see whether any protected wildlife species or plants are present before work can start on site. If any are found, this may delay work starting on site to avoid damage or disturbance to habitats and breeding areas. The Council has appointed a licensed Ecologist to carry out this work.

English Law, in particular the Land Drainage Act, requires that full agreement and Consent is obtained from the Environment Agency for the design and construction methods, because the works will be carried out over and near a major river and floodplain. There is an 8 week period required by the Environment Agency before consent can be given once the above three processes have been completed.

Once consent has been given, the Council can then complete detailed design and invite tenders for the works. Construction contractors shut down for a period of 2 to 3 weeks over Christmas, so will not be available to start work until the New Year, and only after the appointed contractor has ordered, obtained and fabricated the required steelwork.

These are just a few of the many processes and procedures required to be completed, and some of these were started soon after closure of the bridge in May, in anticipation of some of the work being required to Jubilee Bridge.

3. Risks of weather/river conditions on construction works

The River Don is tidal at the Jubilee Bridge location, and river levels vary every day. A major part of the works to re-open Jubilee Bridge requires work to be carried out from the river banks and in the river. These are foundation works. High river levels will delay such works. Also, works to the bridge itself will require scaffolding under the bridge. Again river levels may rise above the working areas on the scaffolding – this has happened in the past during maintenance work. Water levels and flooding in the river Don can vary at any time during the year – such as the July 2007 flooding – so starting at any time during the year has similar risks regarding water levels and weather effects.

One recommendation already received from the Ecological Survey is that owing to birds nesting in the river bank areas, site works should start between the months of September and March before bird nesting commences.

4. New Bridge/crossing options

A new river crossing is likely to be built next to Jubilee Bridge, rather than in the exact same location, however this decision is being considered at present. This will allow continued access across the river Don during construction of the new crossing. Following the opening of the new crossing, it is currently intended to demolish Jubilee Bridge, to allow the Environment Agency to improve the Flood management in the area.