Tough coating system protects Jubilee Millenium Bridge
Tough coating system protects Jubilee Millenium Bridge
Keywords: Coatings, Corrosion prevention, Concrete, Steel
The unique Gateshead Millenium Bridge, officially opened by the Queen on 7th May during her Golden Jubilee Tour of the UK, was coated by products from International Protective Coatings.
The spectacular bridge, which spans the River Tyne in the north-east of England, links new arts and cultural developments on reclaimed industrial land on the Gateshead Quays on the south bank of the river Tyne with Newcastle Quayside on the north.
The Euro35 million bridge, part funded by the Millenium Commission, uses a world-first tilting mechanism to open, turning on pivots on both sides of the river to form a spectacular gateway arch. The design incorporates a pair of steel arches, one deck for pedestrians and cyclists, the other supporting it with suspension cables. It has a total span of 126 m (413 feet) and the innovative design demanded that it was manufactured to a tolerance of just 3 mm(0.11 in.).
Two concrete piers on each side of the river hide the massive hydraulic rams,pivots and motors required to open the 850 tonne structure for ships to pass through, an operation resembling the action of a giant eyelid. A series of steel piles in the river are designed to prevent it being hit and can withstand a collision from a 4,000 tonne ship travelling at four knots.
Architects were Wilkinson Eyre and structural consulting engineers Gifford and Partners. Gateshead-based construction company Harbour and General was awarded the contract in 1999.
The coating system was Interzone 505 a glass flake epoxy coating, and Interthane 990 acrylic polyurethane topcoat. Interzone 505 is a long-life coating, for use in the most aggressive environments, including offshore. A glass flake epoxy product, it provides very high abrasion resistance and long-life performance. Similar competitive products usually use micronised glass flake, made from ground up glass. Interzone 505, a high solid, low VOC,high-build product, contains lamellar glass flakes, which provide a better barrier to water vapour. It can be applied direct onto a blasted steel or as an intermediate or a finish coat, where long-term cosmetic appearance is not essential. It will also accept a cosmetic topcoat easily.
Watson Steel Ltd (a division of Amec) fabricated the structural steelwork and the decision to recommend the International system to the engineers from a shortlist was made by Project Manager K. Butterworth after carefully considering the products' track record and technical specification.
During the day the bridge appears white with a hint of blue, at night it is transformed by a state-of-the-art computer controlled lighting system which creates multi-coloured lighting effects.
More information on heavy duty coating systems is available on International Protective Coatings' Web site: www.international-pc.comor by contacting Simon James at International Protective Coatings, Oriel House,16 Connaught Place, London W2 2ZB. E-mail: comm.enquiries@uk.akzonobel.com
