Gull Wing Bridge

 The new £148m Gull Wing Bridge in Lowestoft is set to become an iconic structure which will provide a vital third crossing over the town’s Lake Lothing.

Victor Buyck Steel Construction are fabricating and installing the steelwork. Some of the vast sections have been transported via barge from Belgium and floated into position via the harbour which has generated considerable media interest.

Arup have undertaken the design work and project manager Conor Lavery claims that Gull Wing will be “the largest rolling bascule bridge in the world lifted using hydraulic cylinders”.

The demands of the project have pushed the engineering limits for this type of structure with the bridge designed to open within 116 seconds and close in 106 seconds, 10 times a day, 365 days a year for its 120-year design life – that’s an anticipated 438,000 openings!

The 342m bridge is set for completion in December 2023 with approximately 3,000 TCBs used in the structural steelwork. TCB Ltd recently visited the project to provide TCB Bolting Competency training for the team on site.

Once open, the much anticipated Gull Wing Bridge is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the town, regenerate the area and attract new investment for the local economy.