Consultants wanted to inspect London bridges

The City of London Corporation is seeking consultants to inspect and help manage 78 highway structures in London as well as five Thames Crossings.

Among the structures are five River Thames crossings including London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Southwark Bridge and the Millennium Bridge, which form part of the historic Bridge House Estates.

The other structures include road-over-road bridges, road-over-rail bridges, pedestrian walkway-over-road bridges, pedestrian subways and a network of service subways.

The main services required from consultants are planning, inspection and condition monitoring of the structures; maintaining and updating the City of London’s web-based bridge database; development of revenue maintenance programmes; and subsequent implementation of the annual revenue maintenance programmes.

According to a contract notice posted on the Official Journal of European Union, the consultants would also assist in the asset management of the five river crossings and highways structures.

The OJEU notice states: "The asset management and operation of 5 bridges over the River Thames and their associated approach structures is required. These consist of: Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Millenium Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge."

Thames bridges scope

Tower Bridge

main river spans (including twin-leaf bascules) and high-level walkways,
north approach viaduct structures,
south approach viaduct structures,

London Bridge

main river spans,
south approach vaults,
duke street hill footbridge,
London Bridge Staircase,

Southwark Bridge

main river spans,
north approach vaults,
south approach Vaults,
park street bridge,
north pedestrian subway,

Millennium bridge

main river spans and north and south abutments,

Blackfriars bridge

main river spans,
north shore spans,
south pedestrian subway.

The contract is set to last for six years, with interested bidders needing to submit their bids by the end of August.

The structural integrity of London’s river crossings has been put in the spotlight following the closure of Hammersmith Bridge after hairline fractures in the cast iron “pedestals” were discovered. Hammersmith Bridge is owned by Fulham & Hammersmith Council and is used by Transport for London to run bus services across the Thames.

Earlier this month New Civil Engineer revealed that Hammersmith Bridge may remain permanently closed to motorists after the cost of a full repair soared to an estimated £100M.

Wandsworth Council has also launched its search for contractors to carry out major refurbishment and maintenance work to Wandsworth road bridge.

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