When I looked at military bridging in august last year the Mabey Logistic Support Bridge was used as an example of the semi-permanent bridge types used by military engineers. The Barker Crossing and was erected by 3 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 22 Engineer Regiment, to reunite the two halves of Workington after the original bridge was destroyed. Named after PC Bill Barker, the policeman who lost his life during the collapse of the Northside Bridge, the footbridge used the Compact 200 from Mabey.

Preparations and Foundations

Build

Opening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rztmK0eS77U 

Units involved with the project were;

• 64 Works Group Royal Engineers, based in Nottingham
• 3 Armoured Engineer Squadron, part of 22 Engineer Regiment, based in Tidworth
• 32 Signal Regiment, based in Glasgow
• 27 Transport Regiment RLC, based in Aldershot
• 9 Supply Regiment RLC, based in Hullavington
• Royal Military Police
• 63 Medical Squadron, based in Preston
• Headquarters 42 (North West) Brigade, based in Preston
• 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, North West England’s TA infantry battalion

A temporary road crossing was also designed by Capita Symonds and constructed by Morgan Sindall, for which they won an industry award.

After much use, the Barker Crossing is being removed as the damaged Calva Bridge has now been repaired sufficiently to allow foot traffic to use it.

Those involved with the strip out were;

• 64 Works Group Royal Engineers
• 53 Field Squadron Royal Engineers
• 4th Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment
• 156 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps

That’s a job well done I think.