Work is progressing on a £6.4 million bridge rebuild scheme in Devon.

Highways England is redeveloping the Merafield Bridge at Plympton after the old structure was suffering from alkali silica reaction, commonly known as "concrete cancer".

Timelapse footage has now been released showing the developments progress, which condenses 11 months work into a two-and-a-half minute film.

Cameras capture how 50kgs of explosives were used to demolish the old bridge, leaving 139 tonnes of metal and 2,000 tonnes of rubble.


A huge clean-up operation followed which resulted in 100% of materials being recycled from the old bridge and used in construction projects across the South West.

In addition, 3,000 tonnes of crushed recycled aggregate was also brought to site to form a ‘crash deck' to protect the trunk road as the old bridge dropped on to it. This aggregate was also taken away for reuse afterwards.

South West Regional Director, Andrew Page-Dove, said: "This video really shows how much work went into planning and executing this significant bridge scheme and we are very proud of what we have been able to achieve for drivers and the local community.

"The recycling record of the project is also impressive and it's great to think that waste from the old Merafield Bridge will now being used in the construction of new buildings and structures all over Devon and Cornwall."



(LM/CD)