Cleveland Bridge UK defies COVID-19 pandemic to record project increase

An historic bridge builder has defied the COVID-19 pandemic to record higher project work.

Cleveland Bridge UK says on-site activity increased 40 per cent during the first half of the year, compared to the last six months of 2019.

Bosses at the Darlington firm say the spike was helped by the introduction of new working methods, which allowed it to continue making and delivering its super structures across England.

During lockdown, the business installed the last of four bridges to support the £79 million widening of the A13 in Essex [pictured left] and completed work on a new road bridge over the River Severn, in Worcester.

It also made and fitted a 90-metre-long crossing for the Congleton Link Road project, in Cheshire.

Chris Droogan, managing director, said: “The significant rise in productivity this year is a fantastic achievement, and demonstrates our ability to quickly adapt to the challenges presented by the change to operations and regulations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These challenges have been met head-on, with professionalism and dedication, ensuring the health and safety of our staff is always our number one priority and delivered with minimum disruption to activity on site.

“We are passionate about delivering exceptional quality, and the increase in activity is a positive endorsement of our skills and capabilities, which form part of the growth strategy for the future.”

Since its inception, Cleveland Bridge has built some of the world’s most iconic structures.

The group was involved in erecting the Victoria Falls Bridge and, in 1911, designed Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge.

More recently, it supplied bridges for the widening of the A1 in North Yorkshire, and jungle and rural crossings in Sri Lanka.