Bridges

A bridge is a structure carrying a highway over a river, canal, railway, motorway, etc, or, carrying a railway, motorway, etc over the highway. Other structures include pedestrian subways, retaining walls supporting the highway (although some may be private) and culverts.

The Council is the Highway Authority and the 'Bridge Authority' for the bridges owned or maintained by the Council. The Council is responsible for around 317 highway bridges and other structures. There are also other bridge owners/authorities and the largest of these are the Highway Agency (trunk roads and motorway), Railtrack (railways), British Rail Property Board (disused railways), the Environment Agency (main rivers) and British Waterways Board (canals).

As a rule bridges usually belongs to the organisation (or its successor) that had cause to construct the bridge in the first place. In some cases such as when responsibility for a route changes, responsibility for bridges has been transferred from one authority to another.

The Council's bridges are inspected in accordance with codes of practice, and include general inspections every 3 years and principle (detailed) inspections every 9 years with special inspections as necessary following the results of these. We also carry out underwater inspections as required and programmes of maintenance work are drawn up from these inspections. Incidents of damage through vehicle collision, storm damage, or other causes are investigated as soon as possible. In the case of damage to bridges by vehicles, reporting of the vehicle details may mean it is possible for the Council to claim the cost of the repairs to the bridge or structure.

Bridges not owned or maintained by the Council are given a superficial inspection every 3 years and those responsible will be advised of anything that requires further attention or investigation following these inspections.

For more information telephone 01628 683 800

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