Bridge teams diving into repairing flood damage
Flooding in June and July has meant a huge amount of work for Warwickshire County Council, and not least for the bridge maintenance team which is responsible for inspecting 1,300 structures across the county.
The team aims to inspect each structure at least once every two years, but the pressure of flooding is seeing them busier than ever. Throughout August and September divers are inspecting bridges for signs of damage or other issues, which may require works.
Based on the team’s inspections, they then carry out minor repairs, including silt and vegetation clearance to ensure the structures remain sound and free from blockages.
The team also liaise closely with Environment Agency regarding flooding issues and generally increase flow capacities when rebuilding bridges and culverts.
If major repairs are necessary, then a full investigation is carried out to ensure the best remedial method is identified. The range of works carried out range from painting, masonry repairs, concrete repairs, anchoring and waterproofing, through to total replacement.
Steve O’Connor, Section Engineer with Bridge Maintenance, said: “A number of our structures were recently damaged during the floods and we responded quickly to requests from local residents to visit various sites and organise repair works effectively. In addition to our normal maintenance programme, a package of emergency, flood related repairs was let to an approved contractor and this work is in progress.
“If anybody is concerned about structures in their locality, they are asked to contact Bridge Maintenance by telephone or via the website and an engineer will visit site and carry out an assessment.”
The highways enquiries number is available during normal office hours on 01926 412515, or visit the website at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk