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Some areas of the protective paintwork on Langstone Bridge, connecting Hayling Island and Havant, are to be renewed after they started to peel away. New steel parapets were installed on the bridge in 2002/03, but the paint system hasn't lasted as long as it should have. After a specialist survey was carried out last year to determine the reason, the conclusion was that the problems have arisen due to some areas of workmanship rather than any faults with the paint. The original contractor for the works has agreed to carry out remedial repairs at its own expense. There is some other damage to the parapets - chipped paintwork, graffiti and impact damage - that is not the responsibility of the contractor, but it has agreed to carry out these works simultaneously to minimise disruption. An additional surface coat will then be applied to both parapets to bring them up to ‘as new' condition. Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Mel Kendal, said: "It's disappointing to have to carry out remedial works, but I'm pleased that the original contractor has been fully co-operative and will make good the paintwork without any cost to council taxpayers. "It's the ideal time to repair other minor damage to the parapets. At the forefront of our minds is the need to keep traffic to and from Hayling Island free-flowing, so normal two-way traffic flow over the bridge will be unrestricted between 7am and 8pm. Outside of these hours, traffic will occasionally be reduced to one lane for the delivery or removal of access scaffold." Work will be carried out to one side at a time, starting with the east parapet on 19 May. The footway for the side being worked on will be closed for the duration of the works, but the other footway will remain open at all times with two crossing points. The overall period of the works will be dependent on the weather but it's anticipated that all work should be finished in August. |
