RMD Kwikform supplies its Paraslim modular cantilever formwork system in pre-assembled modules for the first time on the A34 Wolvercote viaduct replacement project, resulting in the pre-assembled modules being adopted as ‘Best Practice’ for Costain.

RMD Kwikform’s modular cantilever formwork system, Paraslim, has been supplied pre-assembled for the first time on the high profile A34 Wolvercote viaduct project, that is being delivered by Costain on behalf of the Highways Agency.

The A34 dual carriageway is a major access route for freight travelling up into the midlands from the port of Southampton and the south coast. The viaduct gives traffic passage over the Thames flood plain, a major rail line that runs into Birmingham, the Oxford Canal and the heavily used A40.

Whether the 47-year-old viaduct should be replaced or continually maintained has been the subject of much local debate. After carrying out remedial works on the viaduct it quickly became clear to the Highways Agency that it would be more cost effective to replace the structure rather than continually maintain it. The contract went out to tender and Costain won the contract to replace the viaduct whilst adhering to the guidelines put in place by both the Highways Agency and the local Council.  The fact that the viaduct crosses a railway line, major road and canal made the project just that more challenging.

Tayo Oyetan, Costain’s Structures Section Manager and Temporary Works Manager for this project talks about the viaduct and the construction programme ahead. “The challenge on this site is to replace the existing viaduct without disrupting traffic flows. The solution that Costain has proposed entails replacing the viaduct within its existing boundary. To achieve that we are building an offline viaduct, which will then give us the room to demolish the existing structures, build a new deck offline weighing 5000 tonnes and slide it into place during an overnight possession of the railway, road and the canal.”

For a project such as this, which is under constant public scrutiny, completion within programme time i ]]>