This month, contractors Tazkier were pleased to welcome fourth year Mechanical Engineering students from the University of Bristol to the bridge! Students were on site to explore the works currently taking place, and learn about the complexity of designing safe access for workers whilst keeping the bridge operational for our road users and pedestrians. We’re sure this was an amazing opportunity for the students to see behind the scenes of a live work site, and hopefully something that will inspire their future careers!
As works on the north side of the bridge move into their final phase, we are starting to see the top coat of paint restoring the ironwork to its familiar ‘flake grey’ colour scheme. Although wet weather over the summer has slowed down the application of the final coating on the bridge’s centre span, it hasn’t stopped the works as the team have focused on preparing and priming the ironwork – a task that can be completed even in the rain.
At each end of the bridge you may have noticed that the scaffolding ‘painting pods’ have been gradually moving up the length of the land chains, which stretch from the underground anchorages to the tops of the towers, as this part of the work is almost complete. Thanks to Nicky Willets from the painting team who took these photos showing what is happening inside the pods!
Along the length of the footway, preparation works on the parapet fence have been completed, and the painting team has been focussing on removing any contact points (where other materials such as connections for safety lines join the structure) to ensure that every single part of the ironwork has been properly coated. It’s this attention to these small details that are paramount!
Works are also taking place off-site, as the modern safety mesh which runs along the side of the footway is being refurbished, ready for return and reinstallation. As we prepare to reopen the north side of the bridge, you’ll see it being fixed back into place. Although some of you will remember looking over the Victorian parapet before the mesh was installed (and perhaps even throwing your school hats over), only a few people have been able to look down on the Avon Gorge from the towers themselves. Workers installing the new electrical systems probably have one of the best views in Bristol at the moment!
Please remember that the bridge will be closed from the evening of Friday 22nd November to the morning of Monday 25th November as necessary scaffolding works take place, the lower sections of the chains (including the parts underground) are cleaned and painted, and our power to the bridge is temporarily switched off to allow electrical works to take place. Drivers may have noticed a couple of potholes that appeared in the surfacing of the bridge were recently repaired, so the team will also have an opportunity to take a closer look at that too.