Client
Devon County Council
Value
£2.2M
Sectors & Services
Highway Structures Marine Structures Heritage & Listed Concrete Repair Coatings Corrosion Control Cleaning & Preparation Projects Projects
Bideford Long Bridge is a Grade I listed, 24-span medieval masonry arch bridge spanning 190 metres across the tidal estuary of the River Torridge in Devon. Constructed initially centuries ago, the structure was widened in 1928 with the addition of cantilevered reinforced concrete footpaths.
Over time, corrosion of the embedded reinforcement led to deterioration of these concrete elements, prompting the local authority to impose a weight restriction. Given the bridge’s historic importance, strategic role within the local highway network, and exposure to a harsh tidal environment, specialist intervention was required to arrest further deterioration and safeguard the asset for continued public use.
Services undertaken
- Installation of scaffold access in a tidal environment
- Concrete repairs to deteriorated cantilevered footpaths
- Design and installation of cathodic protection system
- Installation of anodes
- Corrosion mitigation to reinforced concrete elements
- Replacement of underbridge lighting and lighting columns
- Traffic and pedestrian management during live bridge operation
- Stakeholder liaison throughout design, consultation, and procurement stages
CRL was appointed to undertake extensive concrete repairs and deliver a long-term corrosion mitigation strategy for the cantilevered footpaths. Access was a critical challenge, with the bridge spanning a tidal estuary and remaining open to traffic and pedestrians throughout the works. Carefully designed scaffold access was installed to allow safe working while accommodating restricted clearances and fluctuating water levels.
Defective concrete was repaired following detailed inspection, addressing areas affected by reinforcement corrosion. To prevent further deterioration, CRL installed an impressed current cathodic protection system, designed to halt ongoing corrosion activity within the reinforced concrete. The ICCP system incorporated a combination of mixed metal oxide coated titanium mesh anodes and discrete mixed metal oxide coated titanium tubular anodes. This hybrid approach ensured effective and uniform current distribution across the complex geometry of the cantilevered footpaths.
The project represented one of the most technically demanding cathodic protection schemes undertaken by CRL since its early work on the Midland Links motorway network in the late 1980s. The presence of services both above and below deck, restricted scaffold access, and the tidal environment placed significant demands on site management and operative expertise. In parallel with the structural repairs, underbridge lighting and lighting columns were replaced, enhancing the visual appearance of the structure while improving nighttime visibility.
Close liaison throughout the design, consultation, and procurement stages was fundamental to the project’s success. This collaborative approach ensured that the works were delivered efficiently, safely, and with minimal disruption to the public.
“This was a particularly complex project with the works well managed and executed. A great credit to CRL.”
Brian Wyatt | Director | Corrosion Control
The works at Bideford Long Bridge demonstrate CRL’s ability to deliver durable, sensitive solutions on complex heritage assets. By combining high-quality concrete repairs with a carefully designed ICCP system, CRL provided long-term protection against reinforcement corrosion, significantly reducing future maintenance requirements and extending the service life of the structure. The project required meticulous planning, technical expertise, and close collaboration with Devon County Council to maintain traffic flow and public access throughout.
Delivered within a challenging tidal environment, the scheme reflects CRL’s professionalism, adaptability, and commitment to asset management best practice. The result is a resilient, protected structure that continues to serve the community while preserving an important piece of the UK’s historic infrastructure.
