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State of bridges in Kent

By: William Janes

Published: 00:01, 30 August 2018

Updated: 08:56, 30 August 2018

Some of Kent's bridges aren't strong enough to carry their full load, it has emerged following a disastrous bridge collapse in Italy.

Separate requests for data from the RAC Foundation and Kent Messenger revealed 29 structures managed by Kent County Council (KCC) are classified as substandard.

Figures from last year show the cost to remedy this was just over £21.6 million.

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The Italian bridge collapse has prompted a look at Kent’s structures

A KCC spokesman said: “In accordance with industry standards, when a substandard structure is identified, the risk to safety is assessed and appropriate measures are imposed.

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"These measures can range from regular monitoring or the imposition of a weight restriction to closing the road completely or carrying out structural repairs.

“At six locations weight limits have been imposed and a detailed technical review of all 29 structures has been scheduled for completion in 2019.”

The list includes Mill Street and Bow Bridge in Wateringbury and four others in Tonbridge and Malling.

On August 14 a section of the cable-stayed Morandi bridge in Genoa collapsed after heavy rainfall, killing 43.

The KCC spokesman said the authority has a very small number of cable-stayed bridges but none are of a similar construction to the Italian one.

The council said it would carefully assess any lessons from the investigation into the Genoa tragedy.

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Tonbridge resident Michael Daniels says drivers on one bridge on A21 Tonbridge Bypass have abided by a 50mph speed limit for months but claimed no remedial work has taken place.

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A Highways England spokesman said “This section has a weak structure beneath (a subway) not posing an immediate and unacceptable safety risk.”

The speed limit will remain until the subway is replaced.

The full list of "substandard" structures include:

Bucksford - Great Chart with Singleton - Ashford

Worten Mill - Hothfield - Ashford

Hampton - West Peckham - Tonbridge & Malling

Stone Bridge - Woodchurch - Ashford

Stair - Tonbridge - Tonbridge & Malling

Bow Bridge - Yalding - Maidstone (3.5 ton weight restriction)

Jefferstone Lane -St Mary in the Marsh - Shepway

Chartham North - Chartham - Canterbury

Mayton Road - Sturry - Canterbury

Shalmsford Farm - Chartham - Canterbury

Bolingbroke - Chislet - Canterbury

Ruckinge Canal - Ruckinge - Ashford (17 ton weight restriction)

Kenardington No 1 - Kenardington - Ashford (18 ton weight restriction)

Bonnington No. One - Bonnington - Ashford (26 ton weight restriction)

Grove Ferry - Chislet - Canterbury (18 ton weight restriction)

Arnolds Lodge - East Peckham - Tonbridge & Malling

Sconce - Brookland - Shepway

Hope Lane - St Mary in the Marsh - Shepway

Yoakes - Old Romney - Shepway

Arrowhead - Snargate - Shepway

Grave Yard Bridge - Brookland - Shepway

Bridge Farm North - Warehorne - Ashford

Betenson Avenue - Sevenoaks - Sevenoaks

Star Inn - St Mary in the Marsh - Shepway

Turnpike Close - Hythe - Shepway

Torrington Road - Ashford - Ashford

Mill Cottage - Tonbridge - Tonbridge & Malling

The Causeway - Sandwich - Dover (7.5 ton weight restriction)

Mill Street - Loose - Maidstone

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