Beaver Bridges welcomes Shrewsbury MP to Walton on Trent Project

Business Director, Richard Hinckley, was delighted to welcome local Shrewsbury MP, Julia Buckley, to the recently installed bridge project over the River Trent.

The bridge forms a critical part of a new 1.5 km single carriageway bypass being constructed around Walton-on-Trent, replacing the existing weight-restricted Bailey bridge that has long constrained traffic flow and local connectivity. Once complete, the bypass will provide improved access across the River Trent, supporting the delivery of 2,000 new homes at Dracan Village and enhancing transport links for existing communities.

At the heart of the scheme is our new three-span bridge, featuring a 64-metre central span over the River Trent and two 43-metre approach spans. Approximately 510 tonnes of structural steelwork have been installed across the structure. The bridge has been designed with flood resilience in mind, offering around 2.6 metres of clearance beneath the deck and incorporating six large culvert structures within the wider highway scheme to manage waters from the active floodplain and ensure long-term reliability of the road network.

Construction was carried out in multiple phases, with the main girders and deck elements installed over approximately nine weeks, ahead of final surfacing and completion works.

Julia Buckley MP commented: “I was very impressed by the size and scale of the structure, delivered by one of the most forward-thinking companies in my constituency. The new bypass and bridge represent a significant investment in the local area, unlocking economic growth through the new housing development while improving traffic flow, connectivity, and quality of life for local residents.”