Ringway and Taylor Woodrow deploy new tech to rapidly respond to Worcestershire partial bridge collapse

On the morning of the 29th January 2024, Keith Corbett, Bridgeworks Manager for Ringway Worcestershire, arrived on site to find that the training wall of the Old Powick Bridge had collapsed into the River Teme. The collapse had also removed the face stonework to the end arch.

Ringway immediately took control of the site and arranged for the cycleway/ footway to be closed off to prevent any danger to the public, and stop and additional loading to the structure.

 

Worcestershire County Council (WCC) were contacted to organise a visit from the Counties' Structural Engineer. However, during the morning, Ringway had already contacted colleagues at Taylor Woodrow to arrange a drone inspection of the structure. Our partner Flythru, who were on site in Crewe, immediately arranged for a team to head to Worcestershire.

 

By 14:00, the survey commenced to identify the damaged caused by the partial collapse, while on site it was agreed with WCC that a full LIDAR mapping survey would be undertaken on the Grade I listed structure. This saved the County Council's Structure Team days of traditional survey from boat and land.

 

WCC, Ringway and Taylor Woodrow will meet on site to agree a planned repair programme.

 

"It is great to see the use of drones moving from something we talk about to being something we deploy straight away to make our operations safer and more efficient whilst improving the service we offer to our clients and the public.

 

"I hope to soon find that this becomes the standard operating procedure for events like this." Philip Reid, Head of Innovation and Transformation.

 

The bridge has now been made safe and the team are awaiting further instruction from the client at Worcestershire County Council.