A transatlantic research network is finding ways to repurpose decommissioned wind turbine blades as footbridges.
As the government scales up wind farm development, the challenge of disposing of turbine blades when they reach the end of their lives is gaining urgency. Turbine blades are primarily made of glass fibre reinforced polymer…
Tag Archives: Bridges
Your View | Grenfell lessons; bridge design lives; tidal power; structural inspections
The sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, where 72 people died, falls on 14 June. I make no apology for writing yet again on this subject. Those directly or closely involved are still without closure. Many thousands in other blocks are still “trapped” due to cladding issues. The industry’s…
Floating platforms aid rebuild of 160-year-old wooden Cambrian line rail viaduct
Network Rail has announced successful completion of refurbishment work on the Severn and Carno viaduct near Caersws, Powys following a 16 day line closure on the Cambrian line that used innovative techniques to deliver the work.
The line in central Wales reopened at the start of this week following major work…
Better safety measures called for following pedestrian bridge collapse in Finland
Calls for better safety measures to be implemented in public areas in Finland came after 27 people were injured yesterday when a temporary bridge in a shopping area collapsed in the city of Espoo.
The accident, which took place at about 9.20am (06.20am GMT), is believed to have happened when wooden…
Your View | Water resources, project costs, concrete roads, bridge maintenance,
I read with interest NCE’s summary of the Environment Agency response to the Thames Water draft Water Resource Management Plan which puts forward plans for water transfer between the Rivers Severn and Thames (Online, 29 March). I found what was not said by the Environment Agency even more interesting though.…
Second phase of refurbishment work to road bridge in South Wales begins
A scheme to repair and refurbish a road bridge in Porth, South Wales, will continue on Monday 17 April.
Contractor Centregreat will replace the bearings on the northern side of the bridge, conduct remedial works to a wingwall, waterproof the bridge and complete final resurfacing work in its second phase of…
Mobile phones could soon monitor bridge structural health
People travelling in vehicles with their smartphones could provide bridge owners with valuable, low cost data to monitor the structural health of their assets.
Challenges arise in managing structures and infrastructure because there are knowledge gaps, says United States Military Academy (West Point) assistant professor of civil and mechanical engineering…
Future of Roads | How HS2’s record-breaking bridge slide cut delays to M42 traffic for motorists
What is claimed to be the world’s longest – and the UK’s first ever – box bridge slide over a motorway ran like clockwork.
Three months on from a record breaking bridge slide for High Speed 2 (HS2) across the M42 in Warwickshire, the team involved has revealed the years…
Your view | Bridge design lives, Menai Crossing, High Speed 2, net zero
I crossed the Menai Suspension Bridge for the very first time in September 2022, so was interested to read the article about its subsequent closure to vehicular traffic. The article said that the bridge underwent a major refurbishment between 1938 and 1941 – after more than 110 years in service.…
Experts dispute RAC Foundation claim that one in 24 UK road bridges are ‘substandard’
Bridge experts have disputed the RAC Foundation’s survey that suggests one in 24 road bridges in the UK are substandard.
The RAC Foundation’s analysis, which was released today, is based on responses to Freedom of Information requests made in December 2022 to 207 local highways authorities, of which 196 responded. Between…