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Bridge & Barrier Repairs
We resolve the legal, administrative and physical defects blocking your Section 38, 278 and 104 sign-offs. Fixed fees, clear timescales, no surprises.
Specialist bridge maintenance for authorities managing aging infrastructure that can't afford to fail
Devon’s got 241 substandard bridges. Somerset 153. Cornwall 140.
That’s bridges unable to carry 44-tonne lorries. Weight restrictions. Diversions. In some cases, emergency closures because the deterioration’s finally reached critical.
Your bridge stock is deteriorating faster than your maintenance budget can keep up
Every Principal Inspection reveals more defects. Red and amber ratings piling up. Concrete spalling where there was just hairline cracks two years ago. Expansion joints that were “monitor and review” now leaking water onto bearings.
Meanwhile, your revenue budget’s flat. Capital bids take two years. Emergency repairs eat the planned maintenance pot.
We maintain bridges and barriers across the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley. Concrete repairs that actually last. Emergency bearing replacements when you can’t wait for next year’s programme. Parapet upgrades that meet current standards. Documentation ready for your Bridge Management System.
What we can deliver for your site...
Why bridges fail, and what it costs when they do
The deterioration mechanisms destroying your assets
Proper maintenance extends asset life 25 years whilst reducing whole-life costs by up to 30%
Critical infrastructure maintained, networks kept open, budgets protected. One accountable partner managing your bridge maintenance
Emergency response that actually works:
Real 24/7 callout, not answering services. Vehicle strike at 2am? We're mobilising temporary protection within four hours and permanent repairs by morning. Emergency bearing failure? We'll have it propped and safe same-day.
NHSS accreditation you can trust:
Sector Scheme 10B for vehicle restraint systems. Not just paperwork - properly trained teams installing safety-critical systems to highways standards without cutting corners.
Preventive maintenance that pays back:
Properly timed concrete repairs extend bridge life 25 years compared to reactive patches. Waterproofing membranes cost £50 per square metre now or £400 per square metre for structural reconstruction later.
Documentation formatted for your systems:
Defect records uploaded straight to Bridge Management Systems. Material certificates. Test results. As-builts. Traffic management records. Everything your inspectors need without chasing us six months later.
Traffic management that keeps networks flowing:
Chapter 8 compliant, minimal closures, phased programmes. We'll work nights, weekends, split phases - whatever keeps your main routes open during peak hours.
One team, one contract, one invoice:
Concrete, steel, bearings, joints, waterproofing, parapets. You're not coordinating five specialists and managing interface risks between them.
Why infrastructure authorities choose Highways Plus
You need contractors who won’t disappear when the job gets complicated. Who understand that “good enough” isn’t acceptable when it’s your name on the asset register and your residents using the structure.
What sets us apart
We've managed every failure mode you'll encounter:
Twenty-five years combined team experience. Catastrophic bearing failures? Fixed dozens. Emergency joint replacements keeping bridges open? Done it through the night more times than we can count. Chloride-contaminated concrete? We’ve repaired thousands of square metres.
NHSS and ISO accreditation that's actually verified:
Sector Scheme 10B for barriers, ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 45001 for safety. Audited annually, not certificates bought from some consultant and forgotten.
Emergency capability across our region:
Based in the South West, we’re covering your area within the hour for structural emergencies. Not someone driving three hours from Birmingham charging portal-to-portal time.
We'll help you prioritise programmes strategically:
Show us your inspection reports, we’ll help rank interventions by structural risk versus budget impact. Some authorities find our planning input as valuable as the actual repairs.
Fixed-fee pricing with proper contingency allowances:
We price for the unknowns we’ll actually encounter, not lowball quotes that turn into variation claims when we find (surprise) deteriorated concrete under the spalling.
Documentation that survives audit:
Your finance team, internal audit, external inspectors – they’ll find everything properly filed and compliant. We’ve never failed a post-completion audit because we document properly from day one.
A structured process maintaining safety whilst minimising disruption
Bridges aren’t like car parks. You can’t just close them for three months and resurface. You need phased programmes, traffic management coordination, work that’s reversible if inspections reveal worse damage than expected.
What you get...
Most programmes start with condition assessment establishing the full extent. Then we’ll design methodology that balances optimal repair with budget reality and traffic management constraints.
Typical timelines: Emergency structural repairs mobilised within 24 hours. Routine concrete repairs 2-4 weeks from instruction to completion. Bearing or joint replacement 4-8 weeks including design and traffic management approval. Major parapet upgrade programmes 8-16 weeks depending on extent.
Condition assessment and intervention planning:
Defect identification with extent and severity mapping, priority ranking by structural risk, costed options from minimum-safe through to optimal repair. You get a proper decision-making basis, not just a quote for what we want to sell you.
Design and specification:
Materials meeting BS EN 1504 or EN 1317 requirements, methodology appropriate for your structure type and access constraints, traffic management minimising disruption. Fixed-fee quotation with clear scope and allowances for typical unknowns.
Traffic management and site establishment:
Chapter 8 systems coordinated with your traffic team, temporary speed restrictions or lane closures as required, welfare and access arranged. Safe working environment without closing your network unnecessarily.
Repair execution by qualified teams:
Concrete repairs using polymer-modified mortars proven to last, steel protection systems applied properly (not brushed on in the rain), bearing or joint installation with precision grouting and alignment. Work by people who've done this hundreds of times, not labourers with a trowel.
Quality verification and handover:
Testing proving the repair works (cube strength, rebound hammer, pull-off adhesion), photographic records showing before/during/after, documentation uploaded to your Bridge Management System. Everything ready for your inspector's sign-off without chasing missing paperwork.
Barrier Repairs CASE STUDY
Council-maintained road bridge, North Somerset
The Challenge:
- Principal Inspection graded the structure condition 4 (poor) with extensive concrete spalling across 40% of the deck soffit. Exposed reinforcement showing visible corrosion. Chloride testing confirmed salt contamination well above threshold levels.
- Expansion joints leaking water onto bearings - one bearing showing visible displacement from uncontrolled movement. Weight restriction under serious consideration.
- Narrow carriageway, no viable diversion route for the 8,000 vehicles daily. Whatever we did had to keep the bridge open to traffic.
- Council needed rapid intervention extending asset life significantly without the £180,000+ cost of deck replacement.
Our Solution:
- Phased night-time working programme maintaining daytime traffic flow. Temporary traffic management tested and approved through trial setup.
- Hydrodemolition removed contaminated concrete without damaging sound material underneath - critical for proper bond. Chloride barrier treatment applied to exposed reinforcement preventing future corrosion.
- Polymer-modified repair mortar (exceeding BD 27/86 and EN 1504-3 requirements) applied in controlled layers up to 80mm depth. New expansion joint system installed with waterproofing protection to bearings. All materials batch-tested and certified.
- Programme delivered across eight weeks of night shifts. Zero daytime closures required.
The Outcome:
- Structure condition upgraded from 4 (poor) to 2 (good) following completion
- Asset life extended by estimated 25-30 years through proper preventive intervention
- Weight restriction avoided - full 44-tonne capacity maintained
- Programme completed two weeks ahead of schedule through efficient night working
- Total cost £67,000 versus £180,000+ for deck replacement option - 63% saving
- Resident complaints: zero (night-time working avoided daytime disruption)
Proven delivery across critical infrastructure networks
Whether you’re managing trunk roads carrying strategic freight or rural bridges serving isolated communities, the requirement’s the same – safe structures maintained within budget.
Sectors that rely on us:
Local councils and highway authorities:
Maintenance teams managing diverse bridge stock from Victorian masonry through to 1960s concrete. Planned programmes and emergency response keeping networks open within tight budgets and political scrutiny.
Regional transport agencies:
Multi-authority infrastructure coordination requiring consistent standards, proper documentation, performance against KPIs. Contractors who understand governance and accountability.
Main contractors and civil engineering firms:
Principal contractors needing specialist bridge packages on infrastructure schemes. Sub-contract delivery from enabling through to adoption-ready completion without interface issues.
Private bridge owners and developers:
Commercial estates, agricultural access, private adoptions requiring structural maintenance. Compliance with insurance requirements and safety obligations without the bureaucracy of public sector procurement.
Rail and port infrastructure:
Overbridges, access structures, heavy-duty loading areas. Traffic management coordinated with operational requirements, work programmed around your schedules not ours.
Public sector estates:
University campuses, NHS facilities, MOD sites with bridge infrastructure requiring maintenance. Security-cleared teams where needed, minimal disruption to operations.
Your Barrier Repairs questions, answered...
How quickly can you respond to structural emergencies?
Four-hour callout across our service area for genuine structural emergencies. Temporary protection same-day. Permanent repair mobilisation typically within 48-72 hours depending on materials and traffic management. We keep emergency stock of critical materials – bearing pads, joint systems, barrier components – for rapid response without waiting on suppliers.
What qualifications do your teams actually hold?
NHSS Sector Scheme 10B for vehicle restraint system installation, CSCS cards for all operatives, NVQ Level 2 minimum for all installation teams. Concrete repair operatives trained to industry standards (we’re not just sending labourers with trowels). Steel protection teams NACE or equivalent certified. ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 certified and audited annually. All work supervised by qualified engineers, not site managers reading the spec for the first time.
Can you work on listed or heritage bridges?
Yes. We’ve maintained dozens of listed structures. Method statements that respect heritage features, lime-based mortars or other conservation-approved materials where specified. We’ll coordinate with your conservation officers, prepare Heritage Impact Assessments if needed, arrange archaeological watching briefs. The approach is more sensitive, the documentation more detailed, but the structural principles are the same.
How do you manage traffic during repairs?
Chapter 8 compliant traffic management designed around your network constraints. Options include temporary speed restrictions with narrow lanes, single-lane alternating with signals, full night-time closures for critical work, weekend possessions on busy commuter routes. We’ll work with your traffic team to find the approach balancing programme efficiency against public impact. Most authorities find night-time working costs less overall than the economic impact of daytime lane closures.
What documentation do you provide?
Everything formatted for Bridge Management System upload: condition reports with defect mapping and photography, repair specifications and material certificates, as-builts showing extent of work, cube strength and quality verification test results, traffic management records, CDM and safety documentation. We’ll also provide simplified summaries for member briefings if you’re getting political questions about the work. Your inspectors shouldn’t be chasing missing paperwork six months after completion.
How much do bridge repairs cost?
Concrete spalling repairs: £150-£400 per square metre depending on depth, access, and extent. Emergency bearing replacement: £8,000-£25,000 per bearing depending on size and temporary propping requirements. Expansion joint replacement: £12,000-£45,000 depending on movement classification and span. Parapet upgrade: £250-£650 per linear metre depending on specification. Bridge waterproofing membranes: £40-£75 per square metre. All prices assume reasonable access – confined spaces or complex traffic management add cost. We’ll provide detailed quotations once we’ve assessed your specific structure.
Can you handle programmes across multiple structures?
Absolutely. Many authorities find coordinated programmes more cost-effective than reactive single-bridge emergencies. We’ll help prioritise interventions based on your condition grading and structural risk assessments, plan phased delivery spreading budget across financial years, coordinate traffic management minimising repeated disruption on the same corridors. Some of our best relationships are authorities running three-year planned programmes where we’re essentially an extension of their in-house team.
Do repairs come with guarantees?
Yes. Material manufacturers provide performance guarantees (typically 10-20 years for concrete repair systems, 15-25 years for waterproofing membranes). We provide workmanship guarantees – typically two years for general work, longer for specialist systems. Guarantees are backed by our public liability insurance and professional indemnity cover. We’ve been trading since 1999 – we’ll still be here when warranty claims arise, not disappeared like some contractors.
What if inspection reveals worse damage than we thought?
We stop, photograph and document the additional defects, notify you immediately. You’ll get clear options: minimum intervention maintaining safety, optimal repair extending asset life, or emergency temporary measures whilst you secure additional budget through your governance process. No surprise invoices, no unauthorised work. Some unknowns are genuinely unforeseeable (concealed corrosion behind sound concrete), others should’ve been identified through proper investigation – we price realistic contingencies upfront rather than lowball quotes that turn into variation claims.
Need to understand what's actually required?
Book a Free, No-Obligation Barrier Repairs Assessment
We’ll conduct a visual condition assessment, identify defects affecting structural safety or service life, provide a written report with priority-ranked interventions and realistic cost estimates.
No obligation, no sales pitch – just professional advice from people who’ve maintained critical infrastructure for two decades and understand you’re managing competing priorities with limited budgets.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
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