Refurbishment of bridges and structures over water, land and railways

Spencer Bridge Engineering have continued restoration works on a number of structures in 2024, here are a chosen few and updates on how each project is moving along.

Corporation Bridge

Spencer Group’s Corporation Bridge project has hit a major milestone, with the painting works and under-deck repairs now complete on spans 1 to 3, with the North truss painted on spans 5 and 6.

Starting in February 2023, the restoration in Grimsby is aimed to make the bridge more aesthetically pleasing while preserving the bridge’s heritage status and protecting it for many years to come.

Built in 1925, the Single-leaf Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge is an important landmark within the area, with a proud history dating back to 1872 when the original bridge played a key role in and around Grimsby Docks.

As well as our work on Corporation Bridge, Spencer Group is still working on other major projects around the country. Refurbishing the iconic Menai Bridge and constructing a Cable Fan Access System for the Pattullo Bridge in British Columbia, Canada are just two of our many projects within the sector.

Matt Kavanagh, Project Manager on the Corporation Bridge site, said:

“Works have been progressing well on Corporation Bridge with the completion of painting works and repairs on parts of the under deck. Works are now progressing on to the next spans of the underdeck, starting with the access installation.

“Above deck, much of the superstructure has now received a top coat, with encapsulation being removed from a number of spans revealing the new paintwork.”

Menai Suspension Bridge

In November 2024, ahead of schedule and in partnership with UK Highways A55 Ltd and the Welsh Government, Spencer Bridge Engineering successfully completed the latest phase of refurbishment work on the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge, in preparation for the bridge’s bicentenary celebrations in 2026.

As part of this essential restoration, the team replaced and repainted 168 of the 208 wire rope hangers, ensuring the structural integrity of the bridge is fully restored. This vital work has reinforced the bridge’s status as a critical transportation link between mainland Wales and the Isle of Anglesey, while also addressing safety concerns that led to its closure in October 2022.

To successfully execute the refurbishment works, Spencer Bridge’s highly skilled team designed custom-engineered equipment, including a de-tensioning rig and a pin pusher, to safely remove the existing wire rope hangers while safeguarding the integrity of the surrounding bridge structure.

The timely completion of the hanger replacement programme represents a significant engineering milestone, achieved despite the programme’s complexity. The team navigated several challenges, including tight design timelines, procurement and supply chain hurdles, and adverse weather conditions throughout the duration of the project.

Project Manager Tom Inglis said:

“The project posed a number of significant challenges, including working in a harsh environment with strong winds and wet weather, but we have a large and diverse skillset which enables us to draw on past experiences to develop solutions.

“We have decades of experience working on a range of complex bridge and infrastructure projects, and with a very collaborative attitude, allowing us to utilise expertise from right across the team to deliver the most efficient and effective results.

“One of the factors which made this project so successful was the close relationships we have developed over a number of years with the client, UK Highways A55 Limited, and our suppliers. Those relationships were especially important to deliver this challenging project on time.”

A spokesperson for UK Highways A55 Ltd said,

"The Menai Suspension Bridge is an icon of civil engineering and a beloved part of local and national heritage. The completion of the hanger replacement programme to schedule is a significant achievement and we are proud to have completed these works thanks to the outstanding leadership of Spencer Bridge Engineering.

“We hope the pause in works over the winter will benefit local residents and businesses with less disruption and improved access during the holiday period. We look forward to completing the rest of the programme of works next year ahead of its 200th anniversary in 2026.”