Road Structures

One of the most demanding and challenging impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) projects ever undertaken by specialist main contractor Concrete Repairs Ltd (CRL) is being carried out on Bideford Longbridge in County Devon, UK. The 24-span medieval masonry arch bridge spans 190m over the tidal estuary of the River Torridge.

For environmental reasons planners decided in favour of the challenging task of constructing a 13-field arched highway bridge over the Oparno Valley in the Bohemian area of the Czech Republic. The 258m bridge, whose reinforced concrete arch has a span of 135m, straddles the valley without any bridge piers, transferring the loads in the form of compressive forces into the foundations.

Tunnels are the highest value assets on a highway, making their operation, safety and maintenance of paramount importance. Patrick Smith reports