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A Jackson team started work on Exceat Bridge earlier this summer – a scheme on behalf of East Sussex County Council to replace an existing single-lane road bridge with a new, two-lane bridge.
Exceat Bridge carries the A259 across the River Cuckmere and is a ‘pinch point’ on the road - an important route for economic connectivity, linking communities from the east of the county along the coastal corridor from Eastbourne through to Brighton.
The structure was originally built around 1870 and was extensively repaired in the 1970s but is now reaching the end of its life. The new design aims to improve the design of the bridge for pedestrians, wheelers, cyclists and vehicles.
Following vegetation clearance, sheet piles have been installed at the bank of each side of the river. These will be capped and clad in flint and will form a flood defence and walkway shelf for bearing inspections. Test bores are underway ahead of the bored piling phase, which is due to take place into the autumn. These 30m piles will support the bridge structure.
Work to build the site compound was delayed by six week after archaeological excavations uncovered ancient pottery dating back to the Iron Age and Roman periods. Key challenges include a tight working space for the piling, meaning risings will need to be removed from site after every pile is installed before the next pile can be put in place. The bridge is also located next to an SSSI site in the Seven Sisters National Park and South Downs National Park, which attract many thousands of visitors each year.
The new bridge is being constructed off-line before it is tied into the A259 under a road diversion. Once this is achieved, the existing bridge will be demolished with the project currently scheduled to complete by May 2028.
About Jackson Civil Engineering
Jackson is a regionally structured civil engineering firm with national capabilities. Our no-nonsense approach to work means that our clients keep coming back because they can rely on us to get the job done on time and on budget. We have a strong reputation a...
