Inspections of flood-damaged bridges could herald bridge demolition gold rush.
Across the UK county of Cumbria, structural engineers are racing against time to inspect the areas 1,800+ bridges for signs of wear and potential collapse following last week’s catastrophic flooding. With several of the county’s bridges swept away in the torrent and several more already earmarked for demolition due to flood damage, local demolition companies are bracing themselves for what could be a much-needed gold rush.
The area has been one of the worst hit by the recession that has gripped the UK demolition industry for the past 12 months or more. And while the events of last week, in which a local policeman died, are hardly cause for celebration, any resulting demolition work will be music to the ears of local demolition workers who have been all but idle for the past year.
Northside Road Bridge at Workington was the first to be swept away in the early hours of Saturday 21 November resulting in the death of PC Bill Barker. By the end of Saturday five more bridges − Northside Footbridge in Workington, Lorton bridge near Cockermouth, Newlands Beck Bridge near Keswick, Camerton Footbridge linking Great Clifton with Camerton and the suspension footbridge over River Eamont near Dalemain − had collapsed.
“Capita Symonds is organising bridge checks and has redeployed some staff [from around the country],” said Cumbria County Council highways network manager John Robinson. “Preliminary checks assess which bridges are affected and which ones aren’t.”
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