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KWVR Underbridge
Rail

KWVR Underbridge

Keighley, England
  • 50 Tonne Steel Deck
  • Permanent
  • 2024 Completion

Overview

Heritage Meets Modern Innovation: Revitalising KWVR Historic Bridge

Beaver Bridges has delivered a landmark engineering feat for Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR), replacing the 135-year-old Bridge 27 with a robust, future-ready steel structure in the heart of Yorkshire’s Brontë Country. This ambitious project, completed in September 2024, marries heritage preservation with cutting-edge engineering to safeguard the iconic steam railway’s legacy.

Fabricated in-house at Beaver Bridges’ Wigan facility, the new bridge features a HAII protective coating—guaranteeing 25 years of low-maintenance durability—while respecting the railway’s historic character. Precision planning began in July 2023, with collaborative buildability reviews ensuring seamless integration into the 5-mile heritage line.

Innovative logistics saw the 50-tonne steel deck transported under police escort and installed using a 450-tonne crane, minimising disruption to the operational railway. The design incorporated pre-levelled bearing plinths, upper/lower base plates, and grouted bearings for millimeter-perfect alignment. Temporary transition slabs, placed via a 50-tonne crane, ensured smooth track transitions, while reinforced concrete pile caps and foundations future-proofed the structure.

Critical to success was the phased execution: uncovering original piles, constructing new foundations, and deploying bespoke shuttering—all completed within tight timelines to avoid line closures. KWVR Chairman Matthew Stroh hailed it as the railway’s “most ambitious civil engineering project since 1968,” delivered on time and budget.

By blending off-site modular fabrication, advanced corrosion protection, and precision heavy lifting, Beaver Bridges has preserved KWVR’s charm while enhancing operational resilience. This project underscores their expertise in heritage-sensitive infrastructure, ensuring the railway continues to enchant visitors amid Yorkshire’s breathtaking landscapes for generations.

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