Scaffolding being set up on the bridge.
Maintenance work on Cambridge’s Victoria Bridge will future-proof it against corrosion, bird droppings – and taggers.
The project, started late last year, is reaching was Waipā District Council group manager, service delivery, Dawn Inglis calls an “interesting” stage.
The council is repainting the old bridge with the same type of product used to coat oil rigs in the North Sea and the project should be completed in January 2024.
Dawn Inglis
Inglis said contractors had made fast progress to reach the third section of the job.
“This is where things get interesting,” Inglis said. “Section three is where we reach the bridge archway, where the bridge starts to leave the bank and move out over the river. At this point the set up becomes more complex, as the scaffolding arrangement needs to be suspended from the bridge.”
As work continues towards the bridge centre, crews will begin working on smaller sections. This means less scaffolding, and therefore weight, on the bridge at any one time.
The first section of the bridge on the Cambridge town side was completed last month when a final coat of paint and a layer of anti-graffiti coating was added. As each section is completed, bird spikes will be installed to protect the bridge against damage from corrosive bird droppings.
“As well as taking measures to stop pigeons from perching, we’re using a special corrosion-resistant ‘moisture-cured urethane’ paint – the same type used to coat North sea oil rigs.”
This long-lasting paint will form a protective layer over the steel, preventing rust, corrosion and graffiti, and keeping it in good condition.
Each section of the bridge is expected to take around three weeks to repaint, depending on the weather.
