Shared Learning on M25 Joints

Large motorway bridges expand and contract with changes in temperature.

Movement joints allow this to happen but at Gade Valley Viaduct on the M25 the joints were worn and needed replacing before they come to the end of their serviceable life.

Closing the motorway during the daytime is hugely disruptive so the team used an innovative method, developed on the M25 QE2 Bridge, which enabled the work to be undertaken with just night time lane closures.

A heavy temporary cover plate and ramp system is installed over the existing joints.  Over ten consecutive nights the ramps are lifted out to allow the joint to be cut out using hydro-demolition. Every morning the ramps are replaced and normal 70mph traffic can return to running. the team were installing the new joints.

This approach is the result of shared learning across the Connect Plus M25 framework community and has re-set the standard for joint replacement.