CAN was requested to undertake strength and durability tests to the concrete piers, facades, soffit and box girders to Waterloo Bridge, London. 

The concrete testing included core compressive strength testing, ultrasonic pulse velocity, Schmidt hammer and the petrographic test.  Works also included concrete resistivity, electrical half cell potential chloride testing, carbonation depth, sulphate content and covermeter survey.

Site constraints included working over water, working on a busy live road bridge, night working and working within a confined space.  Defects and testing were described, measured and recorded on annotated drawings for the client to interpret in the final report.

The CAN access team utilised CAN-Beam; an in-house designed lightweight modular staging platform to access the bridge soffit and undertake the inspection and sampling required.  The box girders were accessed using confined space working techniques.  A safety boat was employed to provide rescue cover for all works to the bridge piers and soffit.

In addition to concrete inspection and testing works, CAN was also tasked with the installation of safety access ladders between the cells of the box girders.

Much of the project was completed on night shifts to minimise interference to third party contractors and the general public.

Duration:        3 months

Client:             FM Conway

Location:        Waterloo Bridge, London