Clifford Avenue bridge SW14
Request ID: FOI-2687-1920
Date published: 19 December 2019
You asked
whether the bridge was built to take the current weight and volume of traffic and when it was last inspected
We answered
TfL Ref: 2687-1920
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 21 November 2019 asking for information about Clifford Avenue Bridge SW14.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
Our top priority for all our assets is safety; for our bridges we have a comprehensive regime of bridge inspections, strength assessments, maintenance and renewals. This ensures our bridges are safe to use and we only permit the appropriate vehicles to use them. Many of our bridges were build a long time ago when vehicle loading was very different – as vehicles loading standards change we use bridge strength assessments to check if bridges need additional strengthening work.
When was the last check carried out?
A General Inspection of this structure was carried out on 24 August 2018 and a Principal Inspection was carried out on 19 August 2016. Safety inspections which are visual inspections by our highways contractor are carried out every 28 days. The next General Inspection is due to be carried out in the next financial year 2020/21.
Was the bridge built to take current volumes and weight of traffic?
The capacity of the structure is 40Tonnes HA and 33 Units HB. 40 tonnes HA is the normal design loading for Great Britain and is the loading capacity of the structure under normal traffic conditions; 33 Units HB is the loading capacity applying to abnormal or exceptional loads e.g. electrical transformers, generators, etc. Based on the results of the assessment and latest inspections, there are no current recommendations for strengthening or other remedial works.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
Back to top
