Black Bridge

The client needed this 150 year old former railway bridge restoring to its former glory so that it could be used as a foot bridge.

The bridge was scaffolded and encapsulated in sections to allow for the passage of boats on the river below. We were finally left with a small section in the middle of the bridge over the river. This was completed by hand preparation and brush painting from a pontoon that could be moved as boats passed under.

Our work consisted of grit blasting the bridge to the required standard of sa2.5 followed by one coat of item 115, one coat of item 112, and finally one coat of item 168.

During the painting phase we had to apply a semi-flexible sealant to nearly all the joints where the cross beams met the side beams due to the fact that the formation of laminating rust had forced the two surfaces apart.

The work was carried out during the winter months. To enable us to carry on painting we had to use space heaters within the encapsulation to raise both the steel temperature and also the air temperature, this then gave us a perfect working environment.

Contract: Black Bridge
Location: Leighton Buzzard
Paint used: 1350 litres
Grit used: 30 tons

Bridge prior to grit blasting.		Bridge during grit blasting with encapsulation.
Bridge after grit blasting and painting.		Steel beams after grit blasting and painting.