Now we know how much those additional works carried out during the restoration of Cleveland Bridge actually cost.
The following is an account of a question put at the recent cabinet meeting of B&NES Council by Councillor Joanna Wright.
The answer came from Cabinet member for Transport, Cllr Manda Rigby.
Question from Cllr Joanna Wright
Please can you give a full cost of restoring Cleveland Bridge, with an appropriate breakdown in expenditure?
Answer from Cllr Manda Rigby
Originally built-in 1826, Cleveland Bridge is a Grade II* listed structure of unique construction, possessing architectural, historic and cultural values. It is an important strategic river crossing within Bath and a crucial link for the city. Various structural modifications have been carried out to the bridge throughout its lifetime, which have resulted in a complex structural arrangement that presents a unique set of challenges in terms of structural assessment, maintenance, and operation. The structure is monitored in line with all expected requirements of the Highway Authority and the required legislation.
Additional challenges have occurred during the refurbishment scheme, such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the additional deterioration of the structure that were not able to be identified when the £3.8m funding bid was submitted to DfT in October 2019.
Once the works started on site the scaffold was erected and concrete started to be removed. The extent of concrete repairs was significantly worse than previously identified in the initial surveys carried out by rope access. This required additional temporary supports to be designed and installed to maintain the structural integrity of the bridge while the repairs were undertaken. Further deterioration was identified with the Hangers Bars requiring detailed assessment, leading to a monitoring system being installed to enable continued safe use of the bridge.
The additional works are forecast to cost an additional £3.0m over the original bid. The additional costs of the project will be covered from the CRSTS Maintenance Challenge Fund with WECA and DfT agreement. Final account assessments are continuing, and detailed breakdowns will be available when these have concluded.
