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The All-round Lightweight scaffolding system from modular specialist Layher will have a major role to play in Aberdeen’s £745Million transport infrastructure development.

The scheme, Linking Stonehaven in the south to Tipperty in the north, will include four sections, 75 principal structures including two river crossings, a railway bridge and 70 culverts. The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will significantly improve travel in and around the north east of Scotland. The scaffolding system will be part of the general construction process.

“A project of this size clearly has key scheduling objectives that need to be met,” says Sean Pike, MD of Layher UK, whose involvement was orchestrated by the company’s Livingston facility. “The speed and adaptability of the scaffold installations are critical, particularly as each bridge structure is designed to meet individual functional and location considerations.”

The decision by AWPR Construction Joint Venture, reflects key characteristics of the All-round system design. When complete, the project will help to reduce congestion, cut journey times, improve safety and lower pollution in Aberdeen City Centre. It will also enable local authorities to develop public transport solutions.

Sean added: “As with all Layher scaffold and weather protection systems, All-round Lightweight benefits from ease of handling and wide bay configuration as well as minimum component requirements resulting from the built-in ‘rosette’ connection system. This also produces clear gains in terms of transportation to, and storage at, site while the absence of separate fittings represents not only an obvious health and safety advantage, but also minimises the risk of materials being accidentally left at a site after removal.  

In a rural location – as is generally the case here over much of the alignment – this is of particular significance. Importantly, the Layher All-round system also requires minimal cross-bracing, enabling clear walkways to be utilised, aiding the movement of both workforce and materials around each structure.  

Additionally, the versatility and loading capability of the modular system meets key considerations at the Aberdeen site head on, with consequent gains in terms of safety and project scheduling.”

A total of four fully boarded scaffold lifts have been installed, to allow for construction of the bridge support substructure, with Layher stair-towers also used at key points optimising speed of access. The deployment of advanced construction techniques impacts directly on both scheduling and budgetary control. The use of Layher’s All-round Lightweight scaffolding system is a clear demonstration of these objectives in operation.  

Kenneth Redman, Technical Manager, Scotland and Ireland at Layher’s office in Scotland, said the company’s work on the project included several significant bridge ‘focus point crossings’.

“One particular site has called for two separate, yet complementary, bridges to be installed almost at a right angle to each other,” he explains. “While one is designed to raise the new dual carriageway over an existing road below, the other is to carry the new road over major utility services.  

The speed of erection and adaptability of All-round Lightweight has been clearly demonstrated here and has avoided possible design complications, additional manpower and potential delays that could have arisen from the use of a tube and fitting alternative.”

Critically, the scaffold installation must be able to keep pace with the work as it progresses.

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