Lowestoft: Huge steel structures arrive for Gull Wing bridge

Weighing more than 400 tonnes combined, and measuring between 40m and 50m long, the next two steel sections of the bridge arrived via barge from the Netherlands on Wednesday morning.

NAV2 and NAV3 arriving in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The North Approach Viaduct (NAV2 and NAV3) sections arrived at the construction site on Lake Lothing following an eight-hour crossing on a barge from Rotterdam.

NAV2 and NAV3 arriving in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The huge steel spans being used in the construction of the £126.75m Gull Wing bridge - which is being delivered by Suffolk County Council and built by Farrans Construction - arrived after weather conditions at sea had scuppered an earlier crossing.

NAV2 and NAV3 arriving in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Fabricated by Victor Buyck Steel Construction, NAV2 is approximately 42m long and NAV3 is 50m long, with the steel on NAV 2 weighing 221 tonnes and NAV 3 weighing 182 tonnes.

NAV2 and NAV3 arriving in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

With crowds and photographers turning out, they lined the quayside as the barge - with a tugboat at either end - inched through Lowestoft’s Bascule bridge and into Lake Lothing.

NAV2 and NAV3 arriving in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

After some "very precise piloting", the complex process of navigating the barge into the inner harbour - before transferring the steel structure from the barge on to the site - was overseen by a team of experienced civil engineers, port masters and marine experts.

NAV2 and NAV3 arriving in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

In the coming days the sections will be lifted from the barge and positioned on to the pier so they can be joined together.

NAV2 and NAV3 arriving in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It comes after the welcome arrival of NAV1 - the first major steel section - in March 2022.

The barge arrives into the inner harbour at Lowestoft. Picture: Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)

Simon Bretherton, Suffolk County Council project director, said: "This is another major step forward for the Gull Wing project and we continue to make good progress with construction."

With a tugboat at either end the barge is manoeuvred into position to navigate through the Bascule bridge. Picture: Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)

Neil Rogers, project director on Gull Wing bridge for Farrans, said: "The arrival of NAV 2 and 3 marks another major milestone in the progress of this important infrastructure project for Suffolk County Council."

Crowds look on from the quayside as the barge eases through the Bascule bridge. Picture: Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)

Safely through, the barge heads towards the work site where the sections will later be unloaded and prepared for installation. Picture: Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)