Totnes Station AFA Footbridge

The project comprised the design and construction of a new ‘Access For All’ (AFA) footbridge replacement scheme at the Victorian station at Totnes improving accessibility for passengers including those with reduced mobility, children and heavy luggage.
Undertaking both the roles of Principal Designer and Principal Contractor, we assisted Network Rail in developing the design and arranging all access requirements for the construction of the scheme. Phasing of the works to the complete satisfaction of all stakeholders was key to the successful delivery of the early contract works.
During the design phase we worked closely with Network Rail to redesign the bridge foundations to ensure sufficient buildability and to accommodate their requirement to maintain a 3m platform width during construction, at all times.

Construction works involved the safe segregation of works areas from the general public and station employees, service diversions, construction of piled foundations and reinforced concrete lift pits, new footbridge and lift installation, cladding to lift shafts and subsequent demolition and reinstatement following the removal of the redundant footbridge. New plant rooms were also constructed beneath the new staircases to accommodate the plant for the lift pits.

The new footbridge was fabricated off-site at our specialist subcontractor’s premises, transported to site under police convoy and installed using an 80T mobile crane during the 8hr rules of route possessions. All possessions were managed by our in-house planning team and safety critical staff. The old footbridge was subsequently demolished under a similar possession routine.

The new 26 metre span steel footbridge sits between two 8 metre high towers on either side of the station platforms. The bridge, steps and step landings were constructed of steel, with walking surfaces coated with specialist non-slip waterproof surfacing.

Each of the two towers house a hydraulic passenger access lift. Both towers were clad with steel profile sheeting designed to replicate painted timber cladding to match the existing station buildings. The new footbridge was constructed away from two existing listed buildings located to the north of the station.

The scheme was constructed at a live train station which required detailed liaison with the Station Manager and Train Operating Companies, Great Western Railway and South Devon Railway to ensure the minimum of disruption to passengers and the station operations was kept to a minimum throughout the works.