Safety of structures is paramount to the UK Bridges Board and recent guidance supported by the Board should ensure that bridge engineers are doing all they can to manage safety critical fixings.

One way of improving safety is by looking to plug gaps in knowledge. The UK Bridges Board had identified the need for guidance on hidden structural components that are not easily inspectable. This month sees publication of new guidance: ‘Management of Safety Critical Fixings’ that the Board helped to initiate.

When bridges fail the effects can be catastrophic. Last year’s FIU bridge collapse in Miami left six people dead; and when the Morandi bridge collapsed in Genoa 43 died. Fortunately, such incidents are extremely rare.

To read the article:   Transportation Professional - March 2019

To find out more about the guidance see here.

Following support from a UK Roads Board meeting in October 2018, the new UK Pavement Management System accreditation process is now moving forwards.

The process is for new entrants wishing to become UKPMS accredited. Some key features of the process are:

• It will be self-funded.

• The focus will be on national reporting requirements.

• Once accredited, new systems will join existing systems on the annual re-testing programme.

The benefit of this process is to provide assurance that outputs for national reporting are produced consistently by all accredited systems. For details visit the RCMG website or contact ukpms@hyperion-uk.com

The UK Roads Liaison Group

The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation
119 Britannia Walk, London, N1 7JE, UK

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7336 1584, Fax: +44 (0)20 7336 1556, Email: justin.ward@ciht.org.uk