Jan 2016 - Mar 2017
Conwy County Borough Council
Conwy Bridge Refurbishment
GABE completed the Conwy Bridge refurbishment in North Wales as Main Contractor and PSCS. The £1.3 million project involved the full refurbishment and protective painting of the steel bridge. GABE delivered the works between June 2016 and March 2017.
The project presented several challenges due to its exposed coastal location. In addition, the bridge crosses a tidal river within a sensitive, high-traffic heritage area. GABE therefore carefully planned the works to manage access, traffic and environmental requirements throughout the programme.
Conwy Bridge Refurbishment and Specialist Access
GABE designed and installed complex scaffold access to reach the bridge steelwork. The team also installed full encapsulation around the work areas. This provided a controlled environment for the surface preparation and protective painting activities.
As Main Contractor and PSCS, GABE managed the project from start to finish. This included scaffold access, encapsulation, surface preparation and protective painting. In addition, GABE coordinated traffic management, environmental controls, health and safety, and programme delivery.
Surface Preparation and Protective Painting
GABE carried out extensive surface preparation across the bridge. The works included power washing and grit blasting to prepare the existing steelwork.
Following preparation, GABE applied a marine-grade protective coating system to more than 16,000m² of steelwork. The coating system provided protection suited to the bridge’s exposed coastal environment.
During the programme, the team also identified additional repair requirements. GABE incorporated these repairs into the works and completed them as part of the overall refurbishment programme.
Project Delivery
The Conwy Bridge refurbishment required careful coordination due to the bridge’s location and surrounding environment. However, GABE maintained responsibility for the complete delivery of the project.
