Improving management controls for the launching of bridges

The A406 Hanger Lane Bridges Replacement Contract for Transport for London is a project to replace two bridges which carry the A406 North Circular Road over London Underground's District lines (Waldegrave Road Bridge) and over London Underground's Central line and Network Rail's main and relief lines out of Paddington station to Heathrow, Reading and the west (South Bridge). This paper seeks to disseminate good practice in the control of a bridge launch through description of how the superstructure installation technique for South Bridge was developed and implemented, taking into account the issues raised by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch's report into the accident during the installation of bridge GE19, and the desire to improve the operational control of the launching of bridge superstructures. Key aspects of the temporary works are discussed to provide practical examples of the implementation of best practice.