Dutch-Style Drawbridge over the River Yare
Breydon Bridge
In 2023, Qualter Hall collaborated with contractor Graham on the £7.5m upgrade of Breydon Bridge on behalf of National Highways.
Our team replaced several key components including the operating system which powers the bridge to open and close.
At the time, Ajith Nair, National Highways Project Manager said: “Many of the key components on the bridge were installed when it first opened in 1985 and are now at the end of their working life.”
What work was done by Qualter Hall on Breydon Bridge?
- Replacement of hydraulic cylinders and refurbishment of hydraulic system: Drainage, removal and replacement of cylinders complete with control manifolds, major refurbishment of existing hydraulic system and replacement of pipework including flushing, pressure testing and commissioning of the hydraulic control system. This was done via a temporary scaffold system which was constructed underneath the bridge to minimise road closures.
- Electrical and controls works: Design and installation of new Motor Control Center (MCC) pump starters, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). These systems work together to control the movement of the bridge. New remote panels and cabling were also configured and installed by our team.
- Commissioning and maintenance: Following installation, our Site Services team conducted Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and delivered operator training. Quarterly maintenance visits have been made to the bridge since startup, ensuring that it remains in optimum working condition.
About Breydon Bridge
Breydon Bridge was originally built in 1985; it is a single-span Dutch-style drawbridge with an opening span width of 23m to let boats pass underneath, along the River Yare, close to Breydon Water. The bridge carries an average of 31,000 vehicles daily on the A47 towards Lowestoft and Ipswich.
