183 year old bridge revived with modern engineering

Whorlton Bridge, County Durham

Project Overview

Location	Whorlton Bridge, County Durham
Sector	Highways
Products	Mass 50 Mat 125 System 160

Dating from the early 1830s, Whorlton Bridge in County Durham has had to be closed to traffic whilst a major programme of works is carried out, during which every component is to be removed, refurbished and replaced. To facilitate the works, a bespoke catenary system has been installed, with our adaptable and modular propping equipment used to construct the temporary structure.

The challenge

Structural deterioration

Inspections revealed that Whorlton Bridge’s main chains and link pins could not safely support pedestrian or vehicle loads, necessitating full closure and complex structural rehabilitation.

Preservation of Historic Integrity

As a Grade II listed structure and scheduled monument, all restoration work had to comply with strict Historic England guidelines, requiring careful dismantling, inspection, and reuse of original materials.

Multi-agency coordination

The rehabilitation works required collaboration between Durham County Council, VolkerLaser, Historic England, and the Environment Agency to balance safety, conservation, and environmental considerations.

Our solution

To address the complex logistical and structural challenges of the Whorlton Bridge restoration, a temporary catenary system was designed to support the existing cables beneath the deck while the bridge was dismantled piece by piece. Developed by Case Civil & Structural Engineering, the system incorporated Mabey Hire’s Mass 50, System 160 and Mat 125 propping equipment.

The modular, proprietary design offered an adaptable, “off-the-shelf” solution that minimised on-site fabrication and simplified installation. Two pivoted towers, positioned on either side of the bridge, supported five suspended catenary cables spanning approximately 95 metres, allowing for the safe removal of the bridge’s structural elements.

View Mass 50

Mabey Hire worked closely with VolkerLaser throughout the early design and approval stages, providing detailed technical support and equipment recommendations to meet Historic England’s stringent requirements.

Their collaborative approach ensured the temporary works scheme gained all necessary sign-offs and could be executed efficiently despite the bridge’s listed status and site constraints. The temporary cable crane was successfully installed in September 2024, enabling the careful removal and transport of the timber deck, beams, hangers and rods to a secure facility for inspection and refurbishment.

Get in touch

“The support from Mabey Hire has been fantastic. They’ve assisted us with design and technical advice, including recommendations on what equipment would be best for our requirements and working alongside our teams to gain sign-off on the proposed temporary works scheme. Mabey Hire has been brilliant throughout and helped make the process far easier.”

Chris McHutchison

Senior Project Manager / VolkerLaser