Acrow bridge supports Bristol Airport expansion

Acrow Bridge has installed a modular steel bridge at Bristol Airport to keep construction moving while protecting airport operations. The temporary span helps contractors bypass airside areas, maintain baggage access and speed work tied to the airport's expansion to 12 million passengers a year.

Why it matters: - The temporary bridge lets Bristol Airport expand without shutting down key operational routes. - The setup keeps baggage drop traffic moving while construction continues overhead. - The project shows how modular bridge systems can reduce disruption at active transport sites.

What happened: - Acrow Bridge announced that one of its modular steel bridges has been installed to support ongoing construction at Bristol Airport. - The bridge provides temporary access between landside areas and a construction zone. - The bridge is being rented for the project by Farrans, a Sisk Company. - The structure was installed at a location that spans both landside and airside areas.

The details: - The bridge is an Acrow 700XS modular steel bridge. - The bridge allows construction traffic to bypass airside areas entirely. - Vehicles can travel from landside over the airside space without entering it and reach an elevated coach deck about three metres above ground level. - The arrangement has reduced the need for special permits, shortened delivery times and helped control project costs. - The area beneath the bridge is the sole access route for baggage drop operations. - The finished bridge maintains a minimum clearance of 2.2 metres between the ground and the underside of the structure. - The bridge allows 24-hour access throughout the construction period. - The bridge was prebuilt in three sections. - Total length is 60 metres, with spans of 21 metres, 18 metres and 21 metres, plus a 12-metre ramp. - The bridge has a single-lane width of 4.2 metres and an epoxy anti-skid deck. - The design load is a single 44t vehicle in accordance with CS454. - The bridge was lifted into place using a crane. - Acrow also supplied four support towers for the project. - Installation took place under a ceiling height restriction and within a limited four-hour lifting window. - Bristol Airport has a history dating back to the 1920s and has undergone multiple upgrades as the region's population has grown. - The current expansion is a multi-year initiative that includes terminal improvements and runway infrastructure enhancements. - Bristol Airport is targeting capacity for 12 million passengers per annum.

Between the lines: - The installation shows how airports can keep operating during major construction by separating passenger and service flows. - The need for a short lifting window and low-clearance conditions suggests the site required a highly planned, low-disruption solution. - Modular bridges can be a faster alternative to conventional temporary access works when space and access are constrained.

What's next: - The bridge will remain in place during the construction period to preserve access and support ongoing work. - Bristol Airport's wider expansion will continue as terminal and runway upgrades progress. - Acrow says its modular bridge systems can be rapidly deployed and adapted for temporary or permanent use across a range of applications.

The bottom line: - Acrow's temporary bridge is helping Bristol Airport expand while keeping flights, baggage handling and construction logistics moving at the same time.

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