Details of more problem bridges have emerged with both Network Rail and National Highways revealing they are affected alongside High Speed 2 Ltd (HS2 Ltd).
Steel giant Severfield this week posted a £5.8m pre-tax loss in its interim results after uncovering the need to remediate a series of jobs it had worked on.
Now major clients have revealed bridge projects that are being inspected where Severfield was the steel contractor.
HS2 Ltd said nine of its crossings were impacted. National Highways has revealed it has five structures requiring inspection, while it has also emerged that Network Rail has a bridge needing remediation.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “Safety is and always will be our top priority. We regularly carry out inspections on the structures we manage to make sure our network is safe and in good working order. We are carrying out targeted inspections on a small number of bridges to rule out any potential issues.
“These bridges remain safe to use. For any abnormal load movements, we have put restrictions in place as a precaution while we assess whether any further strengthening measures may be required.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Network Rail has been made aware of a construction issue with one of its new steel girder bridges on a freight-only line in the Midlands.
“The issue relates to the quality of some of its welded joints. While there are no operational or safety issues to be concerned with in the short or medium term, it is likely that remedial work will be needed to lengthen the predicated lifespan of some welds. We are discussing the issue with our main supplier, and its sub-contractor, to provide a suitable solution in the months ahead.”
A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: “We have identified a number of welding defects related to steel fabrication work undertaken by one of our suppliers. A comprehensive review has been undertaken to determine the extent of the further action required. We are working closely with the company and our supply chain to address the issue.
“This will not impact on the safety or quality of the operational railway which is being designed to the highest standards.”
It has now been confirmed that three of the affected HS2 bridges are currently in use. Construction News understands that tests have proved they are safe to remain in service but maintenance may be required sooner than planned.
The trio of structures in this category are Duddeston Mill Road bridge in Birmingham; the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury rail bridge in Stoke Mandeville; and the Harvil Road bridge in Hillingdon.
Meanwhile the five National Highways bridges requiring inspection were named as the A30 at Chiverton; the A46 Binley Junction; the A454 at Catherine De Barnes Lane South; the M42 Solihull Road; and the A1 Allerdene Railway Replacement.
Severfield this week revealed it had set aside £20.4m to resolve structures it had identified as “not in compliance with the client’s weld specification requirements”.
The issue was “predominantly relating to 12 bridge projects that are either ongoing or were completed over the past four years” it added.
This left the York-based firm with a plunge into the red for the six months to 28 September this year despite a 17 per cent hike in revenue to £252.3m.
It blamed “sub-optimal choices of welding procedures” for the bridge issues but added that these were “exacerbated by limitations in the specified weld testing regime for these projects”.
A “comprehensive review” was underway involving clients, insurers and “relevant industry authorities” said Severfield.
The company added that it would “be pursuing all potential recoveries from third parties… with preliminary indications suggesting a good prospect of insurance recovery”.
It is understood that Severfield’s statement this week only accounted for those bridges requiring it to make meaningful financial provision.
