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In pictures | Inspectors use rope access to survey Rochester Old Bridge
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
Rope access allows technicians to carry out a detailed inspection that puts them within touching distance of all elements of Rochester Old Bridge (Image: RSK Group)
Bridge inspectors are using skilled rope access techniques to conduct a detailed survey of the Grade II-listed Rochester Old Bridge.
Rope access specialist company Up and Under and sister company CAN Structures, both part of the RSK Group, are carrying out the inspections as part of a six-year contract with the Rochester Bridge Trust to monitor its assets.
Work is being undertaken during off-peak hours and overnight to limit disruption to the public.
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Up and Under project director, Miles Hulse, said: “Principal inspections require a within-touching-distance examination of all parts of the bridge structure.
CAN is using its access system to provide a stable platform beneath the bridge to work from (Image: RSK Group)
“To do this, a team of Bridge Inspection Certification Scheme (BICS) certified inspectors and Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) rope access specialists will utilise rope access techniques to gain access to the areas over the River Medway.
“Over a four-week period of day and night shifts, inspectors will inspect the full extent of the bridge. Compared to the New Bridge, which we inspected last year, the historic construction of the Old Bridge makes it more challenging to closely inspect the below deck elements.”
The works are being carried out during off-peak hours and overnight to limit disruption to the public (Image: RSK Group)
Hulse said that to overcome this challenge, CAN is using its access system to provide a stable platform beneath the bridge to work from.
He added: “Rope access trained inspectors can work more efficiently from this movable platform, which mitigates the need for temporary scaffolding or directly attached structures that might damage the protected bridge.”
Rochester Bridge Trust will use the findings from the inspection to inform future maintenance and monitoring of the bridge’s condition.
The November/December 2025 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
Powered Access
CM, in partnership with IPAF, has launched a new survey to explore the industry’s views and experiences with powered access machines on construction projects.
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