TMS (Teignmouth Maritime Services) are very proud to announce we have accepted the European Commercial Marine Award for best marine civil engineering project 2nd year running, this year with an emergency project assisting Balfour Beatty on the Nunham Viaduct Project.
The Project
TMS were called by Balfour Beatty on Good Friday 2023 following the emergency closure of a critical railway link between Oxford and Didcot at the Nuneham Viaduct.
This historic, two-span bowstring truss bridge carries both passenger and freight over the River Thames and is a vital freight link for the UK. The bridge had been under constant monitoring since suffering progressive settlement of the southern span and after a sudden increase in the deterioration of the abutment, the line was forced to close.
Working on behalf of Balfour Beatty, TMS were appointed as the onsite marine civil engineering contractor to install temporary works from the river to support the viaduct while reconstruction took place. Following a rapid mobilisation, TMS were on site within days, fully equipped with pontoons, tugs and piling equipment to install two significant pile-supported bridge trusses. These were designed to allow the whole bridge deck to be jacked to facilitate the repairs.
Working in the River Thames using our specialist fleet of modular pontoons allowed easy movement between the river locks and access to the remote site using our shallow draft and high-power tugboats.
Working 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, to ensure the emergency works were not only completed but reopened within 65 days
- Procurement of piling equipment, including 33T & 38T Movax with DH-25 & DH-35 piling hammers.
- Installation of four clusters of six driven tubular piles either side of the viaduct for the temporary works
- Mobilisation of a 150T crawler crane to act as a service crane for the site
- Mobilisation of 750T crane to lift the temporary works structure into position under the soffit of the bridge
- Jacking up of the south side of the bridge by 0.7m
- Removal of bridge structure using 750t crane under a Network Rail possession
- Cutting and removal of all temporary riverbed piles
- Mobilisation of TMS Sinbad Barge and pontoons from Abingdon lock to Nuneham Viaduct
Providing professional marine and land based civil engineering services since 1991
TMS has been providing professional marine and land based civil engineering services since 1991. Experienced in working as the principal marine contractor, providing a one-stop-shop construction service as well as a design service. TMS are also fully able to work as a sub-contractor for large civil engineering and building companies who need our marine expertise and specialist marine and land-based plant.
