The Construction of Media Foot Bridge Salford: the Welfare of the Society - Research Paper Example

Introduction The Media footbridge is a pedestrian walkway linking Trafford situated in the South to the new Media City Development in Stafford situated in the North. The swinging footbridge cuts across the Manchester Ship Canal next to Salford Quays. The Media city is a fast growing region with offices for prominent broadcasting corporations like BBC, which will play a great role in molding the future of Salford Quays. The construction proposal was from Peel media while a collaboration of Gifford, Wilkinson Eyre Architects, and Bennett Associates were allotted the role of work on site survey and come up with a favorable design. The bridge is not only a footbridge but also a symbolic landmark anonymous to the Media City and Trafford Wharl. This paper focuses on the environmental, ecological, geotechnical, and hydrological considerations that designer and constructors of the Media Foot Bridge Salford, Manchester had to have in mind when deciding on the construction technology to use. Development proposal endeavors to address the geotechnical restriction of the location, and allow pedestrians to access to the Media City Development, Imperial War Museum link to the present Lowry Bridge boosting access to the Manchester Ship Canal. The footbridge has a wharf at Manchester Ship Canal such that it can open or close when swung. Piers at every quayside offer access ramp to the bottom of the bridge. The most important part of the designing process was to decide how the bridge would open for transient vessels. The exact location of the site is Salford, within Manchester in an area currently under industrial use. The land encompasses the Manchester Ship Canal, Salford Quays within which a media City is being developed and Trafford Quay, which is currently under little significant utilization (Curran & Thompson, 2010, p. 5-6). Designing of such a bridge was vital since a fixed bridge would meddle with the public right of navigating over port Manchester, which would require statutory authority. However, this opening bridge is appropriate since no controversies would arise and it construction only requires permission for planning. Peel Holdings, the client behind this project required the bridge to be greatly visible to act as a pointer to the region, maximise connectivity, as well as be distinctive, and thrilling (Bain Wright Partnership Limited, 2009, P. 16-19) The Manchester Ship Canal required the designers to consider the development potential of restraining docking of big vessels and the clearance amid the underside of bridge deck. The construction of the planned bridge does not necessitate evaluation by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as it does not fall under any of the two schedules of the EIA groupings. However, the planners had to confirm that the bridge passed test such as ability to cope with floods, was ecological friendly, and built in proper grounds. Archaeological Desk Study and Desk study of Water Quality Impacts were among the reports prepared to support the construction. Geotechnical results after location exploration showed the ground consist of Made Ground comprising of gravely clay and of about 1.0 and 5.0 drift deposits of organic sediment and thick gravels. The gravely clay encompasses of brick rubbles, concrete, ember, glass. Below the drift deposits was sandstone bedrock, approximately 13 meters under the ground level. The site also had evidence of other compound such as lead, and other hydrocarbons with similar chemical composition range of extractable petroleum. This called for proper care in order to reduce ground disturbance as well as appropriate disposal of both the ground and the canal silts. The bridge was designed in a manner to reduce its impact on existing structures such dock walls south of the site. Permo-Triassic Chester Pebble Beds Formation lying on Carboniferous Upper Coal characterizes the underlying ground. (Bain Wright Partnership Limited, 2009, P.4-10) Ecologically the site mainly comprises of short perennial vegetation common in urban settings. Assessments proved that construction of the bridge would not affect the role of the Manchester Ship canal as a wildlife strip. However, mitigation measures were recommended to ensure that the construction did not cause pollution. The designers were required to consider drainage aspects as well as treatment of wastewaters to diminish pollution. The site is reasonably far from Trafford Ecology Park thus no serious impacts were projected (Bain Wright Partnership Limited, 2009, p 17). The bridge received approval from Technical Approval of Highway Structures for fulfillment of features such as design suppositions, loading, as well as the analysis techniques. Construction Design and Management (CDM) assessed the risks the construction could have on the health and safety of constructors, user, and all those involved in the designing. The assessment was done throughout the designing and construction process to ensure the project did not put the health or life of anybody at risk (Curran & Thompson, 2010, p.4). Hydrological results showed a key aquifer beneath but the site does not fall under a groundwater protection region. The water height of water in the canal is about 21.37m AOD. Flood risk assessment demonstrated that groundwater heights are above base of canal thus no anticipated pollution and had no residual flood jeopardy. Foundation not expected to expose underlying silt peat deposits (Bain Wright Partnership Limited, 2009, P. 16-18) In conclusion, the construction of Media Foot Bridge Salford posed no danger on environment, was ecologically friendly, and put into consideration the welfare of the society. The important role the development would play overweighed on the minimal risks it could possibly pose to the life of residents as well as the environment. The bridge design reduces its impact on existing structures such as the already present dock walls south of the site. Works Cited Bain Wright Partnership Limited 2009, Trafford Wharf Promenade: Planning Statement. Curran, P & Thompson, S 2010, Media City Footbridge, Salford Quays. Viewed 06 May 2012 < http://www.gifford.uk.com/fileadmin/uploads/Documents/Research_and_Opiniom/MediaCity_Footbridge_Venice_Sept_2010-full.pdf> Read More