VolkerStevin completes work at Northenden Wier
VolkerStevin has completed works to the Northenden Weir, located on the River Mersey in South Manchester. The construction of the weir dates back to the 14th century. Over the centuries the weir has undergone continuous maintenance and repair due to damage caused by fast flowing water.
Following storm events in 2023 and 2024, several masonry blocks became displaced, posing significant risk to numerous flood risk management assets upstream, including embankments that form the adjacent Didsbury Flood Storage Area. The Environment Agency (EA) contracted VolkerStevin to carry out repairs on the weir.
Due to the urgency of the repairs and limited access to the weir, the VolkerStevin team used a helicopter to place 100, one-tonne rock bags upstream of the weir. The placement of the bags diverted flows either side of the damaged area so that repairs could be carried out.
A specialist diving team was able to maintain the defences whilst the site was cleared and preparations for the repairs carried out.
The VolkerStevin team was able to repair some of the original timbers used in the construction of the weir and fill-in the section where original slabs and stone sets had been lost with concrete. Once the main repairs were completed, the team was able to move onto a smaller, adjacent, concrete repair. Works on the weir have now been successfully completed.
“The completion of repairs to the weir will ensure the continuous management of flood risk in this area. As the weir provides support to several other significant flood risk management assets, it was key that we worked collaboratively with the Environment Agency to carry out this innovative approach to repair the damage and return functionality to the weir.”
Julian Wilson Contracts director
