What is a bridge slide?
A bridge slide or launch is the technique that currently looks to be most suitable for our need to bridge the Midland Main Line. It is used with clear span bridges of the type that we anticipate using. This technique involves building the bridge on one side of the space to be bridged. For us this means either on contract 6, the northern embankment, or more likely on contract 2, the reinstated embankment between Bridge 331 and Railway Terrace. When the superstructure is complete large jacks are used to lift and push the bridge out across the gap, half a metre at a time. The great advantage of this method is that it requires the Midland Main Line to be shut for only a short period of time, perhaps as little as one day. This would save a considerable amount of money. Another advantage of a launch option is that it would simplify the centre section of the project by using a continuous viaduct, rather than a mixture of bridges and embankment. This would echo the look of the original Great C
