Openshaw Park Better Rivers Project
United Utilities is investing in storm flow screening along a stretch of the River Roch, helping to mitigate against the impact of its operations on the local watercourse and enhance the environment.
Bethell were selected as the principal contractor to deliver the Bury Aesthetic Screens Project at Openshaw Park in Bury through United Utilities’ (UU) Better Rivers Programme.
On behalf of UU, Bethell installed:
- 900Ø Secant Piled Combined Sewer Overflow chamber
- 4 PCC segmental shafts 12m deep using caisson and underpinning methods
- 4 new 2.1mØ manholes 7m deep
- Over 500m of new sewer installed, 200m installed using pipe jacking techniques
- Installation of powered screen, control kiosk, MEICA & DNO supply
- Abandonment of existing CSOs, redundant existing sewers and outfalls
In 2023 we established our ‘No-Dig’ division using existing internal expertise and recruiting new talent to maximise in-house delivery. This project complements the expansion of Bethell’s unique ‘one-stop’ solution by providing no-dig solutions and successfully delivering our first tunnel drive and shafts.
The site was located in a popular park with an extremely small footprint. Our investigations revealed poor group conditions up to 6m deep and very weak mudstone below that depth. As a result, traditional sheet-piled solutions could not be utilised, and therefore, a secant-piled solution was selected for the sewer overflow chamber.
A timber heading was used in conjunction with the guided auger bore to accurately locate the existing brick egg sewer to avoid damage and create a reception area within the existing 4.3mØ manhole. Upon completion, Bethell delivered all reinstatement, landscaping works and constructed a wicket pitch on the grounds to an English Cricket Board standard, returning the park to public use.