Engineering firm lifts first span of Walton-on-Trent bridge as £25m bypass reaches major milestone
Chasetown Civil Engineering has completed the first span of the new Walton-on-Trent bridge, marking a major milestone in the delivery of the £25m Walton-on-Trent bypass scheme.
Using a 600-tonne crawler crane, the lift took place on 27 February following earlier delays caused by adverse weather conditions. The operation was the first of six planned lifting phases to install the bridge structure over the River Trent.
The scheme, delivered by Chasetown Civil Engineering on behalf of Vistry, will provide a new 1.5km single carriageway bypass around Walton-on-Trent, replacing the existing weight-restricted Bailey bridge which has long constrained traffic flow and local connectivity.
Once complete, the bypass will unlock improved access across the River Trent, supporting the delivery of new homes at Dracan Village and enhancing transport links for existing communities.
The new three-span bridge includes a 64-metre central crossing over the River Trent and two 43-metre approach spans.
In total, approximately 510 tonnes of structural steelwork will be installed across the structure.
The design incorporates flood resilience measures, including approximately 2.6 metres of clearance beneath the bridge and six large culvert structures within the wider highway scheme to accommodate waters from the active flood plain and support long-term road network reliability.
Bridge installation is being undertaken over multiple phases, with the main girders and deck elements being installed over a programme of approximately nine weeks, ahead of final surfacing and completion works.
Chasetown Civil Engineering is leading the scheme as principal contractor, including earthworks, infrastructure, bridge construction and final surfacing.
The bypass will play a key role in enabling the next phase of development at Dracan Village, helping to deliver new housing while removing through-traffic from Walton village centre and improving overall road network performance.
Matt Procter, head of business development at Chasetown Civil Engineering, said: “This is a defining milestone for the project and a great example of how well-planned infrastructure unlocks growth.
“By delivering this scheme, we are improving connectivity, supporting new communities and addressing long-standing transport challenges for the area.
“It also demonstrates the capability of regional contractors to deliver complex infrastructure schemes at scale through collaborative delivery models – something we believe is increasingly important to the industry.”
Phil McHugh, divisional managing director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “After the challenges posed by the weather, it’s fantastic to see the first span of Walton Bridge finally lifted into place.
“This is a major milestone for the project and a vital step in improving transport links for both existing communities and future residents.”
Chasetown Civil Engineering are delivering the project alongside their Shropshire Alliance partners, bringing together specialist expertise from Beaver Bridges and Foundation Piling to deliver the bridge and associated piling works.
Construction of the bypass began in early 2025, with completion of the bridge and highway works following installation of the remaining spans and final surfacing.
