Everton new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium update as ’fundamental’ step is taken

The construction of Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium continues to make eye-catching progress.

The new ground is set to open for the start of the 2024-25 season with headway ever being made. The Blues have now confirmed that a 100-tonne bridge deck is being constructed ‘to assist with site logistics and provide a vital link to the scenic western wharf in the final scheme’.

Eventually, the bridge will provide for both home and away team coaches arriving at the 52,888 seater stadium. It is being built now to assist with site traffic while work is ongoing.

The original design has been changed as it complements ‘the existing isolation structure in the south west of the site’ and helps water flow and stimulate marine life. Meanwhile, the bridge will act as a channel for the outside broadcoast compound to connect to all camera positions.

Gerald Knights, Structures Engineering Lead for Laing O’Rourke, told Everton’s website: “The bridge is fundamental to the operation of the stadium.

“It allows a one-way flow of traffic around the stadium, so vehicles can come in on the north side and leave via the south, or loop around the western wharf.

“It’s also a conduit for all the utilities that come from the outside broadcast unit, which sits on the western wharf, and the bridge carries all of the electrical and communication cables into the stadium.

“Originally, there was another type of structure designed in this location, which would have de-linked some of the water connectivity between the two adjacent docks.

“We changed that and turned it on its head and built this structure which spans over the water now, and allows the marine life to repopulate the channel.”

“That makes it quite a substantial structure, but one that is more cost-efficient and sustainable than the previous version that was on the table.

“We are constructing it now because it becomes important for logistics. Once we have the utilities in and we have built the bridge deck, we will be able to start putting traffic on this bridge and it will give us the flexibility, later on, to be able to excavate out around 15,000 cubic metres of earthworks to create the new water channel and a new habitat for all the species that will move into this area.

“We’re hoping to get it ready for use in January of next year and then we should be able to see traffic on it not long after.”