When it opens in the Autumn of 2017 the Mersey Gateway Project will deliver a new six lane toll bridge over the river between Runcorn and Widnes, helping to relieve the ageing and congested Silver Jubilee Bridge.
Additionally, the work involves upgrading 7 km of highways to the north and south of the river – the main bridge is 2.2 km long – and changing traffic flow so the vast majority of traffic will use the new route.
A temporary trestle bridge has been built as an access platform for the construction teams to work from to build the new structures in the river.
Accessed from the trestle bridge, temporary cofferdams have been built to enable foundations to be laid for the three pylons that will support the main bridge.
Two new Doosan DA30 30 tonne articulated dump trucks (ADTs) are being used to remove earth excavated from these cofferdams and from others across the site.
Fitted with high flotation tyres, the units have been hired, with drivers, from Total Plant Hire (TPH), based at Trafford Park in Manchester, for work on the project.
The Doosan DA30 ADTs are also being used in the construction of the supporting piers for the elevated approach 
viaducts, which cross the Manchester Ship Canal and the St Helens Canal.
Each approach viaduct is held up by a number of supporting piers – there are 20 in total – which will stretch across the saltmarsh on either side of the estuary.
The ADTs have found an additional role in the reuse and restoration of the land across the project site. A significant amount of material is being excavated from within the project boundary and nearly all of this material will be reused on site.
Low Ground Pressure
Thomas Halligan, Owner of TPH, said: “We purchased the new Doosan DA30 ADTs equipped with high flotation tyres for use on contracts such as the Mersey Gateway Bridge project, where low ground pressure is required.
“At TPH, we believe in offering a ‘one-stop’ service for our customers covering all types of machine needed for their sites. Since we started purchasing Doosan ADTs in 2014, we have seen very good utilisation especially for the trucks with high flotation tyres on projects across North-west England.”
Like all Doosan ADTs, the DA30 model features an articulation hinge positioned behind the turning ring to provide equal weight distribution to the front axle even during maximum steer articulation.
This together with a free-swinging rear tandem bogie ensures equal distribution of weight to each wheel and guarantees permanent 6-wheel contact and drive for equal power distribution and excellent performance on difficult terrain.
The specially shaped body and sloping frame offers a low centre of gravity and perfect weight distribution. Combined with the free-swinging tandem, the DA30 offers ‘best in class’ low ground bearing pressure, which is further minimised by the use of the high flotation tyres on the machines purchased by TPH.
The two new units have joined eight more DA30 models that already form part of the hire fleet at TPH, all of which were purchased from Norwest Plant Ltd, based at Wigan in Lancashire, the Authorised Doosan and Bobcat dealer for North-West England and North Wales.
The 10 Doosan DA30 ADTs are part of the impressive TPH rental fleet that also includes over 100 of the same company’s excavators and wheel loaders, all purchased from Norwest Plant.
TPH runs a mixed fleet of Doosan excavators comprising both crawler and wheeled models. The Korean manufacturer’s wheeled excavators were added in 2008 as the company diversified into the utility market and the fleet was further expanded in 2010 with the addition of the first Doosan mini-excavators.
Norwest Plant
As the Authorised Doosan and Bobcat dealer for North-West England and North Wales, Norwest Plant covers Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside (including the Wirral), Cheshire, Anglesey, North Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.
Jonathan Campbell added: “Over the past 18 months we, at Norwest Plant, have invested heavily in our aftermarket function by doubling the number of service engineers, doubling our parts staff and appointing an aftermarket manager.
“We now have a clear and defined strategy to provide the best possible service for all our customers; from the sole traders who purchase 1 tonne Bobcat mini-diggers to the larger companies who purchase up to 50 tonne excavators.
“All engineers have spent weeks at a time at Doosan-Bobcat’s training facility at Dobris near Prague in the Czech Republic and have the knowledge and expertise to cover any eventuality.”
