
Removing and installing canal footbridges is not an easy task. So, when contractors Griffiths were tasked with replacing two old bridges on the Droitwich Canals, they knew it would require large-scale, unusual lifting operations on the water. With this in mind, the company turned to marine engineering and maintenance experts The Rothen Group to carry out the works.

Flowing through the spa town of the same name, the Droitwich Canals are thickly lined with trees and hedges, providing a green haven for local walkers. Reopened in 2011, the canals – consisting of the Droitwich Barge Canal and Droitwich Junction Canal – have also become a thriving cruising ring for boaters looking to navigate the picturesque Mid-Worcestershire Ring.
The route’s continued use as a peaceful retreat and boating artery means continuous upkeep is required to keep it in good condition. This extends to two commonly used wooden footbridges spanning the waterway at King George Playing Fields and Little Hill Court, with each measuring 18 metres. In January 2024, it was decided both bridges would be removed and replaced, with contractors Griffiths selected to carry out the project.

Taking Down the Timber
Both footbridges weighed seven tonnes and were hard to dismantle conventionally, meaning the works would be difficult and require complex lifting operations. In addition, there was no land access for the large lifting equipment needed due to housing developments being built in recent years and proximity to the local parks.
Thomas Roberts, Site Manager at Griffiths, said: “From a civil engineering perspective, dismantling and replacing bridges is undoubtedly difficult and requires a lot of planning. When that bridge is over a body of water, the difficulty factor multiplies further – both needed to be stripped down, replaced and lifted into place on the canal itself, so we knew specialist equipment and knowledge would be needed to carry this out.”

Faced with this challenge, Griffiths engaged the services of marine engineering specialists The Rothen Group (TRG) due to its portfolio of plant and equipment. Specifically, the company was able to provide a 26ft crane pontoon, allowing works to be carried out on the water by construction machinery.
Capable of lifting 2t at 12m, the platform could also be adapted to narrow and wide beam waterways, suiting the awkward-to-access circumstances of each bridge’s location. Crucially, the pontoon has jack legs, creating a stable working platform while both projects were carried out.
“Dismantling the old bridges proved difficult from a health-and-safety perspective, as it quickly became apparent that the old wood had rotted,” said Ian Rothen, Founder of The Rothen Group. “Yet we were able to meet this challenge, using scaffold towers mounted on the pontoon and extra harnesses off the crane to carry out the first stage of the works.”

Help from the Hopper
All disassembled and discarded materials from the bridges were loaded onto a 70-foot historic carrying boat to be disposed of off-site. This hopper was then crucial to the next part of the project, carrying the new bridges to where they would be lifted and fixed in position via the pontoon-based crane. New ramps were also put in place as part of these works, followed by the installation of handrails – also from the pontoon. In total, the project took eleven weeks to complete, with both bridge installations taking just two days each despite their scale.
“While The Rothen Group is known for its traditional bridge lifts, the sheer size of these bridges made them some of the biggest we had ever erected,” said Ian. “Our largest boat is 21 metres, so considering the bridges were 18 metres long, the whole project was very tight. However, we drew on our years of experience to ensure the complex project was completed without a hitch.”

Thomas Roberts added: “The assistance of The Rothen Group was invaluable to the successful completion of this project. Ian and the team were extremely helpful throughout despite the complexities this particular project presented. Whether they were known about beforehand, or – in the case of the rotting wood on the original bridges – encountered over this project’s lifetime, The Rothen Group were able to adapt and provide a suite of comprehensive solutions. I would gladly engage with them again on projects of this type.”

Source: The Rothen Group