1,000ft bridge installed on Luton airport rail link

As part of Luton airport’s Direct Air-Rail Transit (DART) project to connect Luton Airport with Luton Airport Parkway railway station, a 1,000ft bridge has been lowered into place allowing passengers to travel between St Pancras and London Luton Airport in just 30 minutes.

The steel structure that spans 80m was constructed off-site, driven 500m down the A1081 and lifted from either side off the road and into place. The move, which took only two hours to complete, was pre-planned using computer simulation tools to ensure its safe installation.

Phil Hobson, project director at the Luton DART, commented: “This was an especially challenging project milestone to reach and required a huge collaborative effort between all parties. The team worked incredibly well together to successfully install the bridge. 

“Every aspect of the installation was specialised and complex. From setting up the temporary ramps to moving the bridge, which took us over two hours. Each operation over the weekend was expertly planned, and we are really pleased to have reached this vital point in the construction of the project.”

Ciaran Scanlon, LLAL programme delivery director, said: “This has been an exciting achievement and a hugely significant milestone in the delivery of the innovative DART scheme.

“The whole project has been full of engineering challenges and to move an object of this size ranks as one of the biggest. To see such a large object calmly trundle down the A1081 under complete control was a great testimony to both the vision of the project and the technical expertise of our contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick-Kier.

Designed by Knight Architects, the 1,000ft steel bridge has a structural truss in the central spine designed to take the live load when a train passes over the bridge, as well as a top chord which traces a parabola rising from the deck.

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