RamArch – Queensbury Tunnel Stabilisation

PROJECT: Queensbury Tunnel Stabilisation
OWNER: Bradford City Metropolitan District Council
DESIGNER: Jacobs UK
CONTRACTOR: AMCO Giffen
PURPOSE: Stabilisation of a masonry & brick-lined railway tunnel lining crown
arch.
RAMARCH TYPE: Plain steel 8mm RAMARCH mesh, manufactured to BS standard
RAMARCH FINISH: Galvanised.
DATE: 2019/20

The disused Queensbury railway
tunnel extends for 2.2km between
Bradford and Halifax. Opened in
1878, the tunnel was closed in
1956 and remained prone to
flooding with consequent
deterioration of the brick lining
In 2019 Highways England
undertook much needed
stabilisation work costing £3.6M in
the tunnel, which included sections
of the tunnel supported with
RAMARCH in the crown and
sidewalls.
In addition, stabilisation work was
carried out on ventilation shafts,
incorporating both RAMARCH and
its related product RAMWALL.
Although the work was carried out
in preparation to close the tunnel
permanently, pressure has grown
locally to create a new “greenway”
transport link connecting Halifax
and Bradford, of which the tunnel
would become a vital part.
In June 2020 the Department for
Transport (DfT) announced funding
for to build a business case for its
redevelopment and £500K was
allocated each to West Yorkshire
Combined Authority to develop
options for how the tunnel could be
part of a new green transport link
and to Highways England to further
explore engineering requirements
and costs associated with ensuring
the tunnel is safe for any future
construction.