An emergency access operation on the M62 Ouse Bridge in Yorkshire’s East Riding required an immense collaborative effort between Layher Ltd and M.R.Scaffolding (Anglia) Ltd, together with the client, National Highways and the main contractor, Winvic Construction.

The innovative design was devised by Paul Hurst in Layher’s technical department and was twelve months in the making. After significant groundwork challenges had been addressed, two colossal Layher Allround cantilever birdcage scaffolds were erected beneath the east- and west-bound joints of the bridge. Two scaffolding teams erected the structures simultaneously, in a mere 10 days.

“The design brief was clear cut,” said Alan Regan, M.R. Scaffolding’s Managing Director. “Our mission was to create two freestanding structures 22 metres high, that didn’t physically tie into the bridge.

“We decided to employ the Layher Allround Lightweight Scaffolding System for numerous reasons,” explained Regan. “One of its notable advantages is its efficiency; it requires significantly fewer components and less manpower compared to the traditional tube and fitting scaffolding approach, thereby boosting our construction speed considerably.”

The complete freestanding scaffolds were a testament to the team’s collaboration, comprising 125 tonnes of Layher Allround Lightweight, a staggering 160 tonnes of kentledge, with more than 350 Layher Protect panels plus security doors installed to enhance the safety and security of the project.