Albert Bridge major strengthening

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Facts and figures

  • Client: Royal Borough Kensington and Chelsea
  • Value: £5.8m
  • The bridge first opened as a toll bridge in 1873
  • 220m long by 12m wide
  • Over 4,500 bulbs were placed and over 6km of cabling was installed
  • Completed 750 steelwork repairs and nine different types of steelwork repair were required
  • 1,000 tonnes of grit was used
  • Approx. 40,000 litres of paint and seven different colours were used

Interserve has completed the refurbishing and strengthening works on Albert Bridge, which was in need of a 'face lift' in order to cope with the demands of the 21st century.

The iconic structure is a grade II listed structure and is a major traffic route across the River Thames between Battersea and the Chelsea Embankment.

The bridge has been subject to traffic load restrictions for much of its life, however the strengthening and repair scheme has resulted in the 7.5 tonne traffic load classification.

The work started on 15 February 2010 and the bridge was re-opened to traffic on 2 December 2011. Among the refurbishment work was the removal of all the paint and re-painting of the whole bridge; putting in new, more efficient, lights; refurbishing the historic toll booths; and relaying the entire road surface.

The works also required the removal of the bridge deck in sections to expose supporting metal, metalwork repairs, preparation and re-painting bridge metalwork, the replacement of the timber bridge deck together with new road markings, signs, street lighting and electrical installation.

Sustainability in practice

  • Interserve reused baulk timbers, which were over 40-years old, forming the bridge deck. The timbers were lifted from position, inspected and found to be in such good condition they were reinstalled on the bridge deck.
  • Full containment of the contaminated waste materials such as the existing lead paint.

Community engagement

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea organised a visit to Albert Bridge for 10 pupils and two teachers from Christ Church School, Chelsea, on 13 July 2011. Interserve gave the children a safety briefing, explained the works, and then showed them sections of the bridge being repaired. The pupils were presented with geometry sets, photographs of the bridge, hi-vis vests and safety glasses with extra hi-vis vests handed out for the rest of the class to wear when walking to school or cycling.

Interserve has fabricated a time capsule into which the School will be contributing various items. The time capsule was fixed below the bridge deck to be discovered when the bridge is refurbished in the future.