Assessments

Our policy has concentrated on completing the assessment of bridges in the Primary, main and secondary distributor network, including known private bridges and Railtrack/BR owned bridges. Work can now start on the remaining local and local access road (including private) bridges in Cambridgeshire in a bid to complete the assessment programme in 2003.

The EU derogate which prevented 40 tonne vehicles from travelling on UK roads was lifted on 1st January 1999. To safeguard the members of the public and the integrity of the bridge stock, all bridges in the assessment programme that were not assessed by that date have been specially appraised.

Monitoring

New national guidelines have been issued on 'The Management of Sub-standard Bridges'. This will require us to impose a more rigorous inspection and monitoring regime of our bridges that have not passed their assessment if we are to avoid wholescale bridge restrictions in the future.

Strengthening

All bridges requiring strengthening will be subjected to a risk assessment before money is allocated. Although priority is normally given to improving and maintaining structures on the Principal Road Network the limited funds will be allocated where most needed. The strengthening programme will be prioritised with the maintenance programme using risk assessment.