Castledykes Bridge, Dumfries

The renamed Kirkpatrick Macmillan Bridge, formerly known as Castledykes, is a steel deck supported from twin, inwardly tilted circular steel arches by high tensile macalloy bars. The ballustrading is of stainless steel and was specifically designed and fabricated for this structure. The lighting units are set within the balustrade posts.

The 67.5m single span, weighing 70 tonne, was fabricated to one piece on site and lifted into place, at a set down radius of 50m, by a TC3200H Demag Strut Crane.

The bridge forms an element of the Dumfries Integrated Transport Strategy and is an important link in the National Cycle Network Leg 7 from Inverness to Sunderland.

The ‘Brief’ for the bridge was to provide an economic but innovative, visually pleasing structure that married well with and enhanced its natural surroundings within a picturesque part of the River Nith.

Works involved:

• site clearance and earthwork operations
• disposal of arisings
• piling works to abutments and ramps
• reinforced concrete abutments
• installation of the steel bridge
• working within a tidal river
• installation of street lighting
• cycle path construction
• sandstone walling and copings
• pedestrian barriers
• signage