An 18-tonne weight limit imposed on Cleveland Bridge in Bath following refurbishment work has been extended for another year, as monitoring continues on the historic structure.
Cleveland Bridge in Bath | Photo © Bath Echo
The weight limit has been in place on the Grade II listed bridge for the past 12 months, following a recommendation for a staged approach to reopening.
When the bridge reopened to traffic last year, engineers installed a monitoring system which detects changes to the characteristic ‘fingerprint’ response of the structure and provides ongoing confidence that the bridge remains safe.
The temporary weight limit, which would have expired on 15th November, has been extended for up to 12 months through a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) so monitoring can continue.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: “Safety continues to be our top priority with Cleveland Bridge. We secured £3.5m from the Department for Transport and invested in extensive and complex repairs to the bridge.
Underneath Cleveland Bridge | Photo © B&NES Council
“At the end of the works engineers installed a monitoring system and this will continue to capture data. Any change to the vehicle weight restriction will be based on this information.
“We have an ANPR camera on the bridge for any vehicles breaching the weight restriction and the Police and Trading Standards have the powers to enforce the restriction.
“We have contacted all those who have infringed the weight limit, with warning notices for the first instance. The number of those drivers breaking the limit are recorded at 0.09% of traffic crossing the bridge.”
The bridge was closed to all traffic in 2021 after surveys identified that structural components of the bridge needed to be maintained, repaired or replaced, for it to continue to function safely.
