Maintenance work is due to get underway on another of Nottingham’s bridges – but the good news is that it’s not expected to have any significant effect on traffic.
Nottingham’s iconic Trent Bridge will undergo full maintenance painting this spring and summer, starting on Monday 2nd March. Motorists affected by Highways England’s emergency maintenance works to Clifton Bridge can be assured that the impact of these planned council works will be minimal – with any lane closures that are needed to allow scaffolding materials to be unloaded taking place at night (8pm to 3am).
These essential maintenance works have been planned for a year, as they involve making arrangements with the Canal and River Trust to close a section of the Trent to river traffic for a period. The work will include painting all steel and cast-iron parts of the bridge, replacement of a few damaged cast iron parapet components and some stonework repairs to the piers and abutments. The work will involve over 11,000m2 of steelwork being painted, and 120m2 of gold leafing applied to the bridge fascia.
The painting, as well as providing an improved appearance cosmetically, more importantly provides ongoing resistance to corrosion and degradation of the structure and secures the long-term load-carrying capacity of the bridge.
The works will be undertaken by Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd, one of the world’s most experienced and best-known steel bridge building and rehabilitation specialists and are scheduled to be completed by mid-September.
Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, Cllr Adele Williams, said: “With its nearby cricket ground namesake known worldwide, Trent Bridge is an iconic gateway to the city which together with the County Council we are committed to maintaining and keeping looking its best. This re-painting will help to protect and preserve the bridge while freshening it up for many years to come.
“With the on-going traffic restrictions in place at Clifton Bridge, I want to reassure people that these works will have minimal impact on the road over the bridge. People affected by the Clifton Bridge roadworks will appreciate the impact on the road network that can happen should a problem arise with such a crucial structure, and the need for vital maintenance work like this to be carried out to keep the structure in tip-top condition.”
Jim Mawson, Head of Operational Delivery at Cleveland Bridge UK, said: “We are very proud to be awarded this prestigious refurbishment project for one of the UK’s most iconic city centre bridges.
“Working in close collaboration with the city and county councils, our rehabilitation team will apply its extensive experience to extend the lifespan of Trent Bridge, including having the honour of applying the highly-recognisable gold leaf that greets commuters and visitors to the city as they cross the river.”
The complete works will cost around £1.1 million, which is equally funded between Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council as part of a long-standing agreement to share maintenance costs, as the bridge spans the boundary between the two authorities.