Assessing and strengthening bridges to
comply with European Union requirements.
All road bridges in Suffolk have been assessed to check if they
have the capacity to carry 40 tonne lorries as required by the
European Union (EU).
Suffolk County Council is responsible for the maintenance of
road bridges, except
for
trunk roads which are managed by W S Atkins on behalf of the
Highways
Agency. Any questions regarding bridges on trunk
roads should be directed to W S Atkins rather than
Suffolk County Council.
Where road bridges are not up to strength Suffolk County
Council may:
- impose a weight restriction;
- monitor the bridge for signs of damage;
- replace the bridge; or
- strengthen the bridge.
There is a formal mechanism for determining
priorities; bridges on busier roads or with unsuitable
alternative routes will normally take priority. A
programme of work is planned several years ahead, but can be
changed year by year if priorities
change.