Decision details

To mitigate against failure of bridge bearing connection on Commercial Street Bridge.

The Commercial Street (Bow String) bridge forms a key link on the Supertram network linking Sheffield City Centre to the east part of the network, Meadowhall, Halfway and Herdings Park, including the tram depot.

As part of their routine inspections SYSL has identified a structural failure in the connection between the fixed bearing and the bridge superstructure requiring immediate analysis and repair work.

The structure is owned by SYMCA and will also be SYMCA operational responsibility in March 2024 and as such need to determine and implement a repair.

SYSL continues to monitor the defect for deterioration.

Appoint Balfour Beatty to progress the Pre-Construction Phase including detail design of Commercial Street Bridge at a cost of £92,329.42 through the SCAPE framework.

Option 1
Do nothing :- The cause of the local failure is believed to have been caused by thermal expansion of the bridge superstructure and repeat of the circumstances which caused the failure (temperatures circa 40 deg C or above) could lead to further damage and potential closure of the structure on safety grounds, isolating the city centre and west part of the tram network for the depot and east part of the tram network, therefore cessation of tram services west of Park Square roundabout.

Option 2
Progress a repair solution through a combination of consulting engineers and contractors :- discounted due to timescales in procuring consultants and then when a preferred solution has been determined a suitable contractor procurement would further prolong the repair programme.

Option 3
Utilise the existing SCAPE framework to appoint Balfour Beatty to progress a Design and Build Contract to first analyse and determine a preferred solution and then implement.

SYMCA is signed up to the SCAPE framework and therefore compliance with procurement requirements is met.


The appointment of Balfour Beatty brings in the construction element as part of one appointment and as part of the SCAPE framework process, free programming services and initial works cost estimation are provided prior to entering into the works contract.

Prior to the works contract SYMCA was required to enter into a two stage analysis and design phase.

The analysis work cost £68,330.83 and reviewed the problem and presented the preferred option for client approval (AIP). This is now required to be taken to a detailed design prior to construction commencing.

The detail design element incorporating additional works to mitigate against the thermal expansion of the superstructure causing issues in the future in included in the Pre-Construction Phase and has increased from the commencement estimate of £70,000 to £92,329.42 as a result of this.

The overall estimated works cost is circa £850,000, including the additional mitigation works at the western end of the bridge away from the initially identified issue.