Steel imported from China may have been responsible for the failure of
Glasgow's Squinty Bridge, investigators believe.
The Evening Times understands the investigation into what caused a
supporting cable to snap in January is focused on steel from a Chinese
factory.
A source close to the inquiry said nothing else was "under suspicion" as the
cause of the accident.
He said when the component pieces in question were replaced with steel
from elsewhere the team was confident the problem would be resolved.
The £20million bridge, officially called the Clyde Arc, was closed on
January 14 after a cast steel connection attached to one of its 14 hangers
failed, causing the hanger to crash on to the bridge deck.
A crack was discovered in the same component of another hanger a week
later. The bridge is closed for at least six months for repair work.
The source, who is involved with the investigation team, said: "There will
be wrangling between various companies over this but steel from China is
the problem.
"It is too early yet to attach blame to anyone, but the bit that failed is a
connecting piece fabricated in a factory in China.
"It brought the whole hanger down.
"We are confident when these pieces are replaced using steel from
somewhere else - most likely England - the bridge will be perfectly safe."
The crossing, which links Finnieston to Govan, was opened in 2006 with the
bridge intended to be an iconic new Glasgow structure.
It was built by contractors Edmund Nuttall using steel sourced from a
specialist company in England.
James H _________________ The blinding obvious is what you showed to me.....
There's a reason I don't buy cheap Chinese tools down the market
Always handy to have a few cheapos so you can lend them out and when they come back fcuked you can say they cost a wad and get decent ones _________________
Stop fuckin about and just fix the fiuckin bridge!! _________________ Now coming at you with 95% more significance, 1% less salt and virtually fat free!
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: SQUINTY BRIDGE REOPENING 29 JUNE
Date for 'Squinty Bridge' opening
Clyde Arc
All 28 steel connectors on the bridge have been replaced since the closure
Glasgow's £20m Clyde Arc bridge is due to reopen on 29 June, the city council has announced.
The so-called 'Squinty Bridge' has been shut since a cable snapped in January. Further inspections revealed another cable was damaged.
All the steel fork connectors have been replaced on the Finnieston to Pacific Quay crossing.
Glasgow City Council said the closure of the bridge had been disappointing and thanked people for their patience.
Councillor Ruth Simpson, executive member for land and environmental services, said: "The Clyde Arc has proven to be extremely popular with the people of Glasgow and I am very pleased that we are approaching a point where we will be able to give them back their bridge.
"Clearly, it has been disappointing to be without the bridge in recent months, but public safety is our priority and time and caution has been necessary."
The bridge, which opened in September 2006, was closed after a cable snapped and crashed onto the road in January.
Milled steel
An inspection by designer Halcrow and civil engineering contractor Edmund Nuttall Ltd, which built the bridge, found a stress fracture in a similar component.
Each of the connector units, which hold the cables on the arc, have been replaced with milled steel and load tested before erection.
The structure, which spans 140m, is a tied arch design, carrying four traffic lanes.
It is estimated that there will be 6,500 crossings on the bridge each day when it reopens.
The Saltire Society gave the bridge a civil engineering award last year. _________________ xxx zos xxx
When they discover the centre of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it.
THE Squinty Bridge will reopen later this month - six months after its
emergency closure.
Glasgow roads bosses plan to open the crossing over the Clyde, officially
known as the Clyde Arc, on June 29.
The bridge spanning the river between Finnieston and Pacific Quay was
closed on safety grounds on January 14 when a forged steel component
connecting a metal upright support to the bridge arch failed.
Since then, main contractor Edmund Nuttall has been working to establish the
cause of the failure and to carry out repairs.
James H _________________ The blinding obvious is what you showed to me.....
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