Specialist engineering firm Fairfields has been appointed by North Yorkshire Council to maintain four swing bridges under a contract running until 2030.
The agreement covers Whitby Swing Bridge, Cawood Swing Bridge, Selby Town Swing Bridge and the A63 Bypass Swing Bridge.
Maintenance and emergency support
Fairfields will provide planned maintenance, emergency call-outs and remote control system support, alongside work on the bridges’ mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and control systems.
The company supplied the original control system for the A63 Bypass Swing Bridge and has maintained Whitby Swing Bridge for more than 15 years. Its maintenance services have expanded in recent years to cover all four structures.
Fairfields sales director Oliver Mangham said: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with North Yorkshire Council and supporting these important assets over the next four years.
“Moving bridges are complex assets, with mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and control systems all needing to work together reliably.”
Mangham added: “Having worked on these structures for several years, our engineers understand the importance of effective maintenance, rapid fault response and engineers who can look at the asset as a complete system.
“We are looking forward to continuing to work with the council to keep the bridges safe, reliable and operational for the communities and users that depend on them.”
UK moving-structure portfolio
The North Yorkshire award follows Fairfields’ five-year maintenance contract for Renfrew Swing Bridge in Scotland.
Fairfields currently maintains more than 20 movable bridges across the UK, including Tower Bridge in London, Lowestoft Bascule Bridge, Poole’s Twin Sails Bridge and bridges on Scotland’s canal network.
Its wider moving-structure work includes the Falkirk Wheel, the Anderton Boat Lift and the retractable roof at Wimbledon Centre Court. The company completed a £2.7m refurbishment of the Falkirk Wheel last year, covering its mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems.