FM Conway has secured a £8.5m refurbishment contract with the Rochester Bridge Trust for the town’s key road crossing over the River Medway.
The bridge trust is one of the few charities responsible for maintaining road assets outside the remit of local highway authorities.
Its heritage dates back to the the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV, and it was originally formed to build and maintain the medieval bridge across the River Medway at Rochester.
FM Conway will work closely with the Trust to deliver the 18-month contract, which encompasses the three structures that form the town’s only road crossing.
Dating from 1914, the Grade II-listed Old Bridge (pictured) is a steel reconstruction of an original 1856 Victorian bridge, which itself replaced the earlier medieval crossing.
The steel and concrete 1970s New Bridge runs alongside the Old Bridge, while the Service Bridge sits between the two.
FM Conway’s structures team will deliver vital refurbishments to all three bridges, including joint replacement works, lighting, surfacing and drainage works.
FM Conway already delivers an integrated asset management programme for the three bridges through its existing term maintenance contract with the Trust.
Matt Smith, structures director at FM Conway, commented: 'Under the Trust’s stewardship Rochester’s bridges have provided crossings over the River Medway for hundreds of years. We look forward to delivering this prestigious project to maintain the structures for future generations too.'
Sue Threader, Bridge Clerk (chief executive) of the Rochester Bridge Trust, said: 'There has been a bridge at Rochester since 43 AD, and since the Trust’s establishment in the 14th century it has remained committed to the maintenance and upkeep of this vital infrastructure. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with FM Conway and look forward to working together to deliver an outstanding refurbishment contract.'
