As part of upgrading works on the East Coast Mainline, a new parapet was to be installed on Stubbin Lane bridge and a complete deck replacement at Willowbank bridge on the Elsecar to Wombwell line. On both bridges heavy craneage was required to lift in the bridge beams and the edge beams. However, the confined approaches and the services passing through the bridges needed careful consideration when locating the required craneage.

PaSCoE were commissioned by Balfour Beatty Rail Ltd to design adequate crane mats to ensure no damage to critical services and no undue stress to the existing bridge abutments.

The crane pads on both sites were analysed and the load being transferred down to the services was established.  An assessment of the capacity of the services was undertaken, which established the type and size of the crane pads required.