Comments on: Exclusive: 86 structures in operation on Strategic Road Network over 120 years old

By: martingiblin@hotmail.co.uk.qsi

martingiblin@hotmail.co.uk.qsi — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:47:04 +0000

Design (working) life as per EC0: “assumed period for which a structure or part of it is to be used for its intended purpose with anticipated maintenance but without major repair being necessary”. It is the minimum life expectancy required for the structure, not the maximum life / age at which the structure is expected to collapse.

The number of structures that have exceeded this arbitrary age is a testament to their design and maintenance regimes, not a cause for concern, which, I feel this article (and FOI requests) is trying to allude to…

By: David Hall

David Hall — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 11:40:36 +0000

Along with others, I feel NCE has really dropped its editorial standards in initiating this poor quality journalism. It could have been a great piece about how infrastructue owners keep critical and historic assets fit for purpose in a demanding 21st century environment … instead you choose sensationalism and critisism, hardly value-adding … poor taste

By: Richard Henley

Richard Henley — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:32:18 +0000

In the tenor of the previous comments, I can’t see the relevance or purpose of publishing this article. In fact I’d rather it hadn’t been. Unless it was to demonstrate the ability of historic structures to continue to perform well, with appropriate care; in which why didn’t it say so.

By: James Stanton

James Stanton — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 09:26:25 +0000

We have no idea if these structures “are past their intended design life of 120 years”, because we don’t know what their design life was intended to be.

We don’t know what design life the stonemasons at Scampston or Spital Kilvington were thinking of in the 1770s. They were probably not thinking of 1970s Ministry of Transport standards. Maybe, instead they were thinking of the roman aqueducts of the first few centuries AD, and expected their works to last a millenium and a half.

A similar FOI request sent to Network Rail would reveal thousands of 120+ year old structures, showing that regardless of their intended design life at construction, the safe working life can be extended by careful management.

By: kevindentith@hotmail.co.uk

kevindentith@hotmail.co.uk — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 09:21:06 +0000

What a shame the industries leading journal has got this so terribly wrong…the editor should have asked for some corroboration of the statements made from industry professionals….note I didn’t say experts as any bridge engineer or technician worth his/her salt knows 120 year design life is meaningless for our hertiage structures. Devon has over 3000 bridges, approx 2000 of those are masonry arches, many of which were constructed around 1830 – 1850 when the rail roads were being built and they are happily carry all modern day traffic loads and will do so for generations to come. It is a nonsense to assign a modern standard design life to these assets and tantamounts to scaremongering. NCE, please talk to someone from ADEPT, UK Bridges Board or Bridge Owners Forum to get an informed response to this disappointing article.

By: Andrew Thomson

Andrew Thomson — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:58:09 +0000

I admire the understated, measured, professional reply Network Rail gave to such a daft FOI request.

By: Lucy Moore

Lucy Moore — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 07:42:21 +0000

I’m a little surprised at the spin NCE has chosen for this article. Rather than congratulating National Highways for maintaining these well built historic structures so that they remain ‘fit for purpose and safe for use’ you choose to focus, rather sensationally, on how old they are. Surely in an age where sustainability is paramount it should be celebrated when assets outperform expectations.

I’m sure a lot of readers of this publication regularly remind themselves that age is, after all, just a number.