
A mammoth task like the painting and refurbishment of all 4,200 of the Clifton Suspension Bridge’s historic iron chains is not something that can wait for good weather and bright sunshine, as pleasant as that might be. It’s a full two year commitment, which means that (aside from a short break over Christmas) work is happening across weekdays and weekends – and even at night. In December, you may not have noticed as many people working on the bridge – but they were still there!
As scaffolding was removed from the bridge’s land chains in December, the works compound in Sion Hill expanded. Over the next couple of months, the remaining scaffolding will be removed – but it will be needed once more in the Spring when the North side of the bridge is completed and the refurbishment process begins all over again on the South side.
The land chains you see sloping down from the towers to the ground either side of the bridge continue under ground almost as far they reach into the air – and of course it is vitally important that the ironwork below ground receives the same expert care and attention to ensure it is well protected from the damp environment. Using hot water, the team have continued to clean the chains by jetwashing and have started the process of applying the new coats of paint.
You may also have noticed scaffolding being installed underneath the bridge deck at the Clifton abutment. This work poses an interesting challenge for scaffolders, who have to work from the top down instead of building the structure from the ground up! The scaffolding provides access to the curved stanchions at the very end of the bridge deck which cannot be safely reached from the underdeck gantry. These stanchions, which help to strengthen the parapet girders running alongside each footway, need to be inspected, removed, painted and replaced; and this process will begin in the new year.
Finally, one of the most visible changes in December was the installation of light fixtures along the freshly painted sections of the north side of the bridge. Working from the underdeck gantry, lighting teams have installed new illuminations along the outside of the parapet girders which will provide coloured lighting along the length of the footway, whilst ensuring bright safety lighting is still in place for those walking across. Energy efficient LEDs are also being fixed to the chains to illuminate the swooping curves of Brunel’s design, and new uplighters added to the hangers to reflect elements of previous lighting schemes. (Don’t get excited just yet as the lighting will not be switched on until all of the refurbishment work has been completed – but you may be lucky enough to see a preview of the display as tests take place!)