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CROSS Safety Report

Small bridge inspection

Report ID: 23 Published: 1 March 2006 Region: CROSS-UK

This report is over 2 years old

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Overview

A student discovered corrosion on a small bridge while carrying out a survey for their final project/dissertation.

Key Learning Outcomes

For all built environment professionals:

  • If you notice a potential safety issue not during the course of your work, consider reporting it to the owner or tenant

  • If the owner is not known, then the appropriate regulator could be informed

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Whilst carrying out a survey on a small bridge for a final project/dissertation a student found levels of corrosion of members under the bridge deck that would, in their view, probably require remedial work. However, they were unsure as to how they should proceed.

Expert Panel Comments

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An Expert Panel comment on the reports we receive. They use their experience to help you understand what can be learned from the reports. If you would like to know more, please visit the CROSS-US Expert Panel page.

The reporter was contacted and given advice as to how to bring this to the attention of the responsible authorities. Small bridges may escape regular inspection and another example has recently been brought to the attention of CROSS.

On a wider front all structures deteriorate with time and having a sensible durability strategy is sound engineering. If the corrosion was under the bridge deck, there was risk it would not be spotted so access and 'inspectability' are relevant design features.

Designers should configure the parts so that the areas at risk are accessible and visible. In a separate incident there was a tragic failure some time ago where a fatigue crack developed on a structure in a position that was not visible without removing a covering, so no one found it.

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