Background
This project involved the demolition of the existing 150-year-old bridge and the construction of a new overbridge at the junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road in Lower Clapton, London
The bridge is situated in a constrained location, surrounded by residential and commercial properties, including a Special Needs school, a block of residential flats, and a secondary school with 3,000 students.
What we did
Murphy & Sons Ltd committed to deploying Best Practicable Means (BPM) to minimize noise and vibration during all construction activities.
We were commissioned to support the s.61 application and to provide noise and vibration monitoring on site and recommended the following measures be implemented:
Team Briefing and Training
- Prior to the commencement of works, a team briefing on the importance of minimizing noise and the application of BPM to be conducted
- Site workers trained to minimize unnecessary emissions and adhere to BPM guidelines
Equipment and Plant Management
- Localized noise barriers to be used around loud equipment such as breakers, saws, power wrenches, whacker plates, grinders, and core drills
- Static plant, including generators, compressors, and pumps, to be enclosed with noise barrier
- Equipment to be kept well-maintained and turned off when not in use or throttled down to minimize noise emissions
Operational Restrictions
- The use of the loudest equipment to be limited to daytime hours (07:00-21:00) wherever practicable
- Deliveries planned during daytime hours, and vehicles not left idling once maneuvered onto the site
- Arisings from bridge demolition undertaken at night to be stored on-site until the next day and removed during daytime hours
Community Engagement and Communication
- A stakeholder communication plan to be developed, including community engagement before work commences and communication of upcoming works and potential noise or vibration effects
- Temporary rehousing was offered during the most intensive work possession, following identification in the noise assessment that the Network Rail criteria were likely to be exceeded from operation of a crane.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Continuous noise monitoring to be conducted at two locations, representative of the worst-affected receptors
- Vibration monitoring to be carried out at two locations during vibration-heavy activities
- Trigger levels set, and working methods and applies additional mitigation if levels are exceeded
Conclusion
The Downs Park Road Bridge Replacement project demonstrates a strong commitment to minimizing the impact of construction activities on the surrounding community through comprehensive noise and vibration mitigation measures.
By implementing BPM, engaging with the community, and continuously monitoring noise and vibration levels, this would ensure that the project progresses smoothly while maintaining the well-being of local residents.
Project Progress
Work completed and the bridge was re-opened in January 2025.
