Machynlleth Railway Bridge Arch Reopening – Shotcrete 430F

Project – Machynlleth Railway Bridge Arch Reopening

Product – Shotcrete 430F

Main Contractor – Alun Griffiths Ltd

Specialist Contractor – Shotcrete Services

Client – Welsh Government

Natural Cement’s Shotcrete 430F was successfully used for the reopening of a blocked arch at Machynlleth Railway Bridge, for pedestrian and cyclist use adjacent to the main road.

The arch next to the A487 Railway Bridge in Machynlleth, Powys, required reopening for cycle and pedestrian routes, making Natural Cement Dry-Spray Shotcrete the ideal solution.

Approximately 250m² of the existing tunnel infill was excavated and reinforced with Shotcrete 430F by the subcontractor Shotcrete Services.

Natural Cement’s Shotcrete 430F has incredibly fast set times and strength gain periods, which enabled short possession periods for each section of the repair works. The material also has an ultra-low rebound percentage – less than 5%, which meant very little of the Shotcrete was wasted compared to alternatives. As the product is based on an environmentally friendly Natural Cement binder and contains no chemical additives, any wasted material and packaging are not contaminated waste.

The 430F specification of Natural Cement’s Shotcrete options implements steel fibres within the mixture, ensuring the natural makeup of the product is maintained while also adding an even further layer of strengthening to the product – a necessity given the arch’s road above.

For this project, the Shotcrete 430F was used in conjunction with RamArch and additional rebar, as specified by Network Rail. This was supplied by Innovative Support Systems Ltd, another Barnsley-based company. This combination ensured the structure reached 20Mpa before the line was reopened. This quick strength made it possible for the construction site to be demobilised before the blockade had expired for the public.

If you are interested in our services or becoming an Approved Applicator, please contact our office on 01226 381133 or email enquiries@naturalcement.co.uk for more information.