The last brick in the wall

Saturday 7 September 

Today marked a significant milestone in the Stanton Culvert 11A project, the last brick was laid in what has been a mammoth rebuild. The honour fell to Michael as he finished off the headers on the outside wall on the down side. Other news, we have started on the extra gully drain in the roadway under the bridge and Roger has replaced the copings on the bridge wing wall and is doing a bit of pointing. Then it's just a matter of finishing off the concreting and tidying up. We are waiting for the contractors to come back and install the up side field gate and the fencing around the wing walls, but that doesn't count towards our end date. 

Inlet channel concrete bypass removed
last few headers to go on 

Roger removing the loose end coping 

The new gully is going in the middle of the road to drain the low spot. 

New gully drain components 

CSI have marked out the scene 😊

Breaking the hard packed surface for the sump 

Dave digging the trench for the pipe 

The outside wall on the down side is the last bit of the new build to finish, it needs some more concrete behind which will be done next week. 

Michael starting the last few headers 

L-R: Roger replacing copings, Michael laying headers, Dave excavating,
Alastair removing loose copings 

Now for the big moment... 

Penultimate wedge going in 

Last bit of brick gets buttered up 

Will it fit? 

Gently tapping into place 

There's no fanfare, just the relief that they are all done. The copings and the wing wall pointing are being done with the black sand mortar, this will blend them in with the rest of the wall.  

Roger replacing the copings 

Back under the bridge... 

Dave tackles the road with the breaker 

Michael's turn on the breaker
(Photo: Alastair) 

All 4 wing walls on the bridge had the loose copings removed and replaced today. 

Down side south wing wall
(Photo: Alastair) 

Pointing up the copings
(Photo: Alastair) 

The remaining bit of black sand mortar was used to point parts the wing walls  

Roger pointing the wing wall
(Photo: Alastair) 

There was even a bit of time for some familiarisation on the brushcutter for Dave and Michael.  

Dave tackles the embankment slope 

Michael heading for the pear tree 

Roger still pointing the copings 

Test fit for the new gully 

The trench broken through to the exiting gully 

There's a bit more to come out of the pipe trench and then the gully can be concreted into place. The end of day position is... 

New gully excavated, nearly ready for fitting 

Down side wall topped off, all brickwork finished 

Down side from the bridge