Great Western electrification programme, UK: Bridge Street overbridge reconstruction

Bridge Street overbridge next to Newport station in south Wales was replaced to enable electrification of the Great Western main line railway between London and Cardiff. The former 120-year-old steel truss bridge was too low and in poor condition, so a half-through weathering steel–concrete composite bridge deck with a smaller structural depth was lifted onto the existing abutments. The new bridge requires minimal maintenance, reducing overhead-line hazards and whole-life costs. This paper describes the key considerations and challenges associated with the strengthening and removal of the existing superstructure, the modifications that were required to the original abutments, and the design and construction of the new superstructure.