Skilled rope access inspectors are at Rochester Old Bridge to carry out a detailed inspection that puts them within touching distance of all elements of the bridge. Work is being carried out during off-peak hours and overnight to limit disruption to the public.

Built in 1856, the Old Bridge is a Grade II listed structure, reconstructed in 1914 around the former Victorian bridge. Owned and managed by the Rochester Bridge Trust, the 150-m-long cast iron, steel and concrete bridge connects Rochester and Strood, carrying the A2 over the tidal River Medway. In line with national guidance, the bridge requires regular inspection to ensure its continued safe operation. These principal inspections are being conducted by Up and Under, an RSK Group company, with support from sister company CAN Structures.

Up and Under Project Director Miles Hulse said: “Principal inspections require a within-touching-distance examination of all parts of the bridge structure. To do this, a team of Bridge Inspection Certification Scheme (BICS) certified inspectors and Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) rope access specialists will utilise rope access techniques to gain access to the areas over the River Medway.

“The work is being led by Lantra BICS-certified inspectors with the support of CAN Structures’ innovative access equipment. Over a four-week period of day and night shifts, inspectors will inspect the full extent of the bridge. Compared to the New Bridge, which we inspected last year, the historic construction of the Old Bridge makes it more challenging to closely inspect the below deck elements. To overcome this, CAN is using its access system to provide a stable platform beneath the bridge to work from. Rope-access-trained inspectors can work more efficiently from this movable platform, which mitigates the need for temporary scaffolding or directly attached structures that might damage the protected bridge.”

The inspection is following the guidelines of DMRB Standards (in particular, CS 450 Inspection of Highway Structures) and the Inspection Manual for Highway Structures, Miles explained.

“Following these requirements, the inspection team is assessing the overall condition of the bridge, as well as individual structural elements, identifying any defects by location, size and severity. They will be looking out for indications of corrosion, loose or missing fixings, cracks, impact damage, distortion, deflection or other signs of structural distress.”

To ensure the safety of the public and inspectors throughout the duration of the works, navigation closures will be in place over the four week delivery period. A footway closure will be in place over the bridge.

Miles said: “The summer period has been chosen specifically for the works to reduce potential disruption while the schools are on holiday. In addition, the River Medway is a navigable stretch and river users have been advised of the works by the navigation authority. Signs will be in place to indicate which spans are closed to river traffic.

Miles explained that the findings from the inspection will be used by the Rochester Bridge Trust to inform future maintenance and monitoring of the bridge’s condition.

Rochester Bridge Trust Bridge Project Manager Helen Rowe said: “It’s a pleasure working with Up and Under. They have embraced our requirement to minimise disruption to bridge users while also respecting the historic structure they are inspecting.”

The work is part of a six-year contract with the Rochester Bridge Trust to carry out inspections of its assets. A principal inspection of the New Bridge was carried out by Up and Under in October 2024.