Pont Bodfel Bridge Replacement

Griffiths was awarded the contract by Cyngor Gwynedd in December 2021 to provide a replacement bridge just south of the existing Pont Bodfal over Afon Rhyd-hir on the A497 at Boduan, near Pwllheli. During the first few months of 2022, Griffiths carried out the design work for the bridge with design partners Tony Gee with construction works commencing in April 2022.

The works will provide a new single-span 17 metre concrete arch bridge which will be clad with locally sourced masonry and will also incorporate the realignment of the approach road to the bridge, as well as improvements to the nearby Gefail y Bont junction towards Llannor to merge safely with the new route.

The A497 is an important strategic route for the people who live and work in this part of Gwynedd, and a major tourist route from Pwllheli to the Llŷn Peninsula; the existing Grade 2-listed bridge has been significantly damaged with scouring at its foundations and was closed in January 2019 whilst a temporary Bailey Bridge with traffic control measures were put in place as an interim measure to avoid a lengthy diversion and to allow repairs, reopening with traffic light control until the replacement bridge is operational. However, it is planned to keep and repurpose the historical Pont Bodfal for use by walkers and cyclists, thereby ensuring its future for years to come.

The new bridge is on schedule to open in early summer 2023, ahead of the National Eisteddfod taking place nearby which will bring tens of thousands of people to the area.

To date, the approach roads have been constructed and the new clawdd walls built. Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles¹ have been installed both sides of the bridge as part of the bridge foundations, and a complex two crane lift was undertaken to install the arches onto the new abutments to span the river. Following the arch installation, work is now progressing well on the culverts and gabion baskets² – linking the constructed approach roads to the new structure. All work has been carried out to date under two way traffic lights, minimising disruption to the local residents. Weather permitting the works will be complete and the new road will be open in April 2023.

For further information on the project, please click here

¹ The Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) technique is one of the quietest piling solutions available and is virtually vibration-free, making it ideal for working in close proximity to existing buildings or in environmentally-sensitive areas.

² A gabion basket is a modular containment system made from galvanised wire mesh and filled with rock, stone, or other non-degradable materials.