Additional inspections for historic Port Talbot bridge as further deterioration found

Neath Port Talbot Council engineers are currently carrying out additional inspections of Port Talbot’s 118-year-old Newbridge Road Bridge which was closed to vehicles in 1972 and then to all users in 2016.

It follows the discovery of further deterioration of the bridge by specialist conservation engineers commissioned by the council to examine possible repair or refurbishment options.

Recognising the importance of the bridge to the local community, the council and local councillors have been taking steps to look at the future of the bridge and cycle path since it had to be fully closed for public safety reasons in 2016. 

Funding was allocated towards a detailed structural appraisal and study of the bridge in 2018 which confirmed the poor condition of the central span and deck of the structure.

It was while the study was continuing earlier this month that the further deterioration of a main girder on the bridge was discovered by Consulting Engineers Mann Williams, who specialise in conservation.

Work is now taking place to install access gates to gain better access for engineers to examine the extent of the deterioration, which is thought to be due to corrosion.

The structure has a Grade II listing from the Welsh Government’s conservation arm Cadw as an example of an ‘unusually detailed’ plate girder bridge. Its status as a listed structure means traditional materials and methods should be used wherever possible in any repairs or refurbishment.

It was closed to vehicles in 1972 by a previous authority due to safety concerns and the age of the bridge.

Neath Port Talbot Council say that work is continuing on monitoring the structure and further updates will be issued as more information becomes available.

(Lead image: Sean Pursey)