The A13 viaduct: construction of a large monolithic concrete bridge deck

The A13 viaduct is a new structure carrying the A13 road around Ford's Dagenham plant. The structure was designed with the dual aim of fast mechanised construction by the use of glued segmental cantilever construction and of providing a low-maintenance structure with minimum joints and bearings. The use of continuity is actively encouraged in UK standards as it has obvious design and durability advantages; this paper describes the design and construction of this large fully continuous, precast pre-stressed segmental concrete structure. Emphasis is placed on the design and construction methods used to form the innovative 54 000 m² monolithic deck from 1030 precast segmental units giving a 1750 m long continuous structure.