The Stockport Interchange project is a massive regeneration effort taking place in Stockport town centre. As well as providing a beautiful recreation park, retail opportunities and nearly 200 new residential units, it will serve as a transport hub, improving bus, rail and cycle links. Renaissance was the appointed civils and structural engineer, working with Wilmott Dixon and for their client TFGM. An exciting aspect of the project is the cycle ramp linking the Oculus rooftop Park to the river Mersey frontage.
The cycle ramp down to Mersey Way:
The Mersey frontage is a beautiful area of landscaping that will become more accessible than ever thanks to the spiral cycle ramp jointly designed by OPS and renaissance. The bridge is a real feat of considered engineering with its cantilevered columns and arms, which support the ramp throughout its length. Whilst the cycle ramp has a unique architectural form, the structure is functional and allows access for all.
The challenges of designing the foundations of the cycle ramp:
Designing the foundations for the cycle ramp presented a unique challenge. The Mersey frontage area is peppered with constraints in the ground, including deep drainage, tunnels, and key statutory services. Superimposing the easements for these constraints left limited space for renaissance to adapt foundation supports to suit, whilst also ensuring the practical buildability of the foundations. This was particularly true of access requirements for things like cranes and piling rigs.
Cor-Ten steel
The use of Cor-Ten weathering steel is a key client requirement and, not only adds to the ramp’s interesting aesthetic, but it also provides a 120-year design life, requiring minimal maintenance over that period. This specific type of steel is designed to rust on its outer layer while protecting the structural integrity of the substrate.
The alternative to this would be steel that has an applied paint protection and would require new paint every 20 years: a process that would incur a significant cost with each application.
Improving buildability:
Renaissance’s biggest challenge was to make the project buildable from a structural perspective. The foundations were particularly challenging not just because of the services we mentioned earlier, but also because each support had varying applied loads acting on them. This coupled with the complex movement and dynamics criteria required us to take a pragmatic approach to the design. Working collaboratively with the fabricator, we set out some key parameters to aid in simplification of the design, detailing, manufacture and sequential installation. In addition, we’ve had to make careful construction considerations of the programme and access requirements throughout.
On the whole, the cycle ramp is a project that has required some smart engineering to address the myriad of component parts whilst keeping a focus on buildability.
Conclusion:
Renaissance’s expertise in buildable structural solutions is helping make the cycle ramp project a success. It will be a standout element of the Stockport Interchange project once complete, providing accessibility and functionality for all while adding a unique aesthetic to the Mersey frontage.
