Traffic signalsandlocal traffic managementhave been removed from Cleveland Bridge,whichnowhas aweightmonitoring system in place.ANPRcameras have also been installed to capturethe details ofanyvehiclesin breach of the weight limit.
Over the past few weeks engineershaveinstalledthemonitoring systemwhich will provideongoing confidence that thebridge remains safeasit isbrought back into service.
It followsarecommendation fora staged approach toreopening theGrade II* listedbridge. Initially the 18-tonne temporary load restrictionwillremainandif monitoring showsthereareno issues the bridge could technically and safely open to normal traffic loads of 44 tonnes.Apassive support systemcould be designed to provide longer term surety.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: As ever, our prime motivation in doing these works on the historic bridge is to ensure that safety comes first. Iam pleased to see that it is now possible to open to two-way traffic with an 18 tonne weight limit, the traffic signalswereremoved on Sundayevening, andmonitoring and enforcement equipment has been fitted.
Thebridge load will becloselymonitoredand wehave installedANPR camerasto capture the details ofany vehiclesbreachingtheweight restriction.Drivers that do flout the restriction are being warned that they could face prosecutionbroughtby Trading Standardsor the Police or via a Fixed Penalty Notice. It is a criminal offence to contravene a traffic regulation order.
Anyone using the bridgewill still see some final masonry works going on now the scaffold has been taken down as part of its refurbishment andI reallywant to thank businesses and residents living on andnear Cleveland Bridge for their patience during this complex refurbishmentofa 200-year-old structure.
Over the spring and summer engineers carried out careful and detailed assessments,as well as further computer modelling,following the discovery of unexpected corrosion in hanger bars at the start of year. More accurate informationon the degree of section loss to the worst affected group of bars became available using castings of the bars.
A detailedreportsaidan intelligent monitoring systemwouldallow the structure to be brought back into service following a period of monitoring under test loads.
Using the monitoring system would provide early detection of the onset of changes in the characteristic fingerprint response of the structure and enable the introduction of control measures to ensure public safety in a considered, timely and measured way.
Masonry works,which couldnt be completed while scaffolding wasin place,will continue underneaththe bridge for a number of weeks and the contractors works compound will be scaled back.
ENDS
The Police and Trading Standards have the power to enforce weight restrictions, however there is no statutory duty to take enforcement action and they may not have the resource to do so.
It is a criminal offence to contravene a TRO [section 5 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984].
A person guilty of an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (1,000) [Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, sections 9 & 33(1), and Schedule 2, Part I].
It is also subject to the fixed penalty regime [Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 , section 51, and Schedule 3].
Generally, enforcement is by the police, though there are a small number of local areas where the police enforce alongside local Trading Standards. Trading Standards are generally unable to enforce effectively alone because, unlike the police, they cannot stop vehicles, get instant replies from DVLA on owner details, or issue on the spot fines (fixed penalties).
However, enforcement can involve the use of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras, vehicle stops and checks and working with local companies and drivers to educate them on permitted routes.
