2020 saw 10 local bridges collapsing completely, and in 2021 this number increased to 17. Of these 17 full collapses, 12 were in Dorset and 5 were in Denbighshire.

The number of substandard bridges also rose again in 2021 to reach 3,211, according to structural surveys. 

It is estimated that the total cost to bring all 3,211 bridges back to acceptable standards would be as high as £1.16 billion. 

The RAC, in collaboration with the National Bridges Group ADEPT, have surveyed over 196 local councils to identify the areas with the highest number of structural damage. The top 5 areas were:

Devon has the highest number of damaged structures in the country with 229 of its bridges below national standards. 

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC, said: “Whilst the increase in substandard bridges year-on-year is not huge, the picture over the last five years looks more like flatlining than sustained improvement, and with the threat of more severe weather events linked to climate change that must be a worry for the overall resilience of our highway network.” 

Council engineering experts warn that there will be a shortage of qualified staff to carry out inspections and bridge repairs.

Kevin Dentith, chair of the ADEPT group, said: “The incidence of bridge collapses that lead to personal injury and traffic disruption is thankfully low but unless more engineers and technicians are encouraged to join the industry and highway authorities receive appropriate funding from the Department for Transport we are at risk of seeing a higher number of bridge collapses than those identified in this year’s RAC Foundation survey.”

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The programme was originally set in motion because maintaining some bridges was deemed to be too dangerous or too costly. Highways England, which manages The Historical Railways Estate (HRE), aimed to reduce liability and risk by either demolishing or infilling the bridges.

The plans were met with significant opposition, including a national campaign by HRE, who disagreed with the motion. Local activists also challenged the initiative.

In light of these concerns, the Department for Transport (DfT) recently announced a review of the scheme.

“By the autumn, we will establish a formalised framework and engagement process for these structures to understand, in each case, whether there is a realistic prospect of it being used for active travel or other transport purposes in future; and to ensure that the views of local stakeholders, including active travel groups and the local authority, are fully taken into account.” 

“Until then, any infilling or demolition on these structures will be paused, unless there is an immediate need to act on grounds of public safety.”

Cumbria’s Eden District Council was one local authority to dispute Highways England’s scheme, stating that the company had refused to pause works on a local bridge after being asked. The council has now requested that Highways England apply for planning permission before going ahead with the infilling.

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