• The presentation will address the urgent convergence of carbon reduction, climate resilience, and productivity demands facing the bridge and infrastructure sector.
• Shifting the narrative from "innovation is risky" to the opportunity cost of stagnation.
• Showcasing real-world project examples to illustrate how technical and organisational innovations can unlock value and solve complex problems.

• Overview of the various projects and engineering services HDR has completed to help preserve the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
• Types of projects include seismic retrofit of the North Anchorage House and Main Suspension Spans, first load rating of the entire bridge, various analysis and repair tasks, and rope access inspections, including the first ever close-up inspection of the suspension towers.

• This session examines how bridge strikes cause costly disruption, highlighting the industry need to shift from reactive fixes to data-driven resilience. We explore managing structural uncertainty to maintain reliability across increasingly complex transport networks.
• We will demonstrate how monitoring technologies reshape impact management using real-time data. Attendees will learn how this intelligence transforms post-incident decision-making, enabling faster, safer route reopenings through evidence-based assessments of structural health.
• The presentation concludes by showing how integrated impact intelligence optimises maintenance and reduces risk. By sharing lessons from live deployments, we illustrate how to protect ageing assets and support the future of smarter infrastructure.

• Advanced imaging technology, historically used in energy sectors, now supports the full lifecycle (design, monitoring, maintenance) of marine assets, including bridges.

• Integrated sensors like Sonar, LiDAR, and cameras on vessels and drones generate accurate 3D point cloud data, delivered to asset managers via the cloud.

• Case studies, including Rochester Bridge, will demonstrate processing tools and how clients use this data in asset management workflows.

• Use of sophisticated digital tools to model and analyse a 150m-long high-speed rail bridge.
• Design of the weathering steel Warren truss.
• Complex launching methodology for the 4000t bridge.
• Lateral frequency considerations.

• What is PAS2080?
• How is it applicable?
• What does it mean for bridges?

The TEN/20 (aka Pecha Kucha) is a stand-alone session comprising mini presentations delivered at a blistering pace by exhibitors and delegates from local authorities and academia.

Presentations are vetted by the organisers of Bridges in partnership with ADEPT.

To suggest a presentation subject, email conferences@hgluk.com.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 January 2026.

• The project features a unique twin-leaf cable-stayed swing bridge designed to maintain a 90m navigational channel, utilizing complex mechanical systems—such as slewing bearings, end wedges, and bespoke expansion joints—to manage span balance and operational loads.

• Success was driven by rigorous aerodynamic wind-tunnel testing to refine deck fairings against vibration, paired with a sophisticated logistics strategy involving global structural analysis for the fabrication and marine transport of the spans from the Netherlands.

• National Highways introduced a 7.5t weight restriction on Severn Bridge in the summer of 2025.
• This presentation will discuss the reasons for this, and then the ongoing work to reintroduce HGVs back on the bridge in late 2026.

• Explanation of the collapse of the Carola bridge in Dresden, Germany, in September 2024.
• Managing risk as bridges deteriorate.
• Examples of good risk management in the UK.

• This case study details a live trial deploying SM:ART retrofit sensor systems on bridge infrastructure in collaboration with Transport Scotland.
• The system uses multi-parameter sensing and AI-driven analysis to provide early warning of deterioration, supporting evidence-based maintenance decisions and reduced life-cycle costs.
• Key insights, lessons learned from the initial installations, and the potential implications for wider adoption across Scotland’s bridge network will be presented.

• Discussing a recently completed £7.5M project to repaint key elements of the bridge and install a modern lighting system in a highly constrained environment, on budget and programme, with minimal disruption to bridge users.
• Reviewing the extensive community engagement at all stages of the project, and the context of the CSBT's twin commitments to maintaining the bridge in perpetuity and sustainable operations.

• The role of Bridgemaster was established in 1176 to oversee the construction of Old London Bridge and the management of its properties, accounts and ceremonies. Over the centuries the position was office was often marred by financial fraud, election manipulation and negligence.
• This talk by one of the current Bridgemasters will give a fascinating insight into one of the most ancient appointments in bridge engineering, with tales of scandal and controversy and an insight into the modern role of promoting the charitable work of the City Bridge Foundation.

Meet exhibitors, speakers and delegates in the Clubhouse adjacent to the conference hall. 

• How should we tackle difficult decisions to retain ageing infrastructure in service as its condition deteriorates?
• Is it rational to use engineering judgement to aid decision making when there is uncertainty?

• Outstanding examples of construction in Europe.
• Changing perceptions of sustainability.
• Promising designs for cycle and heavy-duty bridges.

• Climate Resilience & Biodiversity: Assessing carbon impacts on bridge resilience and integrating nature-positive solutions.

• Circular Economy & Lifespan: Measuring material circularity, minimising waste, and analysing the key factors influencing bridge service life.

• Social Value & Holistic Sustainability: Maximising social contributions and using frameworks like BREEAM to link all themes.

• Complex infrastructure success depends on breaking down silos and building trust to align the objectives of clients, contractors, and communities, ensuring that project value is measured by long-term social impact rather than just technical excellence.
• Using real-world examples like Hammersmith Bridge, the text highlights how early engagement and integrated multidisciplinary teams allow projects to navigate competing priorities, manage risks associated with aging assets, and achieve more resilient decision-making through shared ownership.

• The bridges industry must embrace change by learning from historical failures, adopting new technologies, and responding to climate, budget, and public pressures.
• Local authorities should focus on smarter asset management, risk-based decisions, and public engagement to do more with less.
• To enable change, we need to communicate effectively about what the problem is. This requires leadership, upskilling teams, data-driven decisions, and collaboration across departments.

• Llanrhystud Bridge on the A487 faces uncertainty due to missing drawings and undocumented post-tensioning and reinforcement.

• Conventional investigations (GPR, coring) failed to confirm these details, limiting structural assessment.

• Muon tomography, proven in Structures Moonshot, was deployed for the first time on a live UK bridge to deliver deep, high-resolution internal imaging.

• The presentation covers the on-site deployment, key challenges, and insights from the measurements.

• It also offers a customer perspective, outlining lessons learned and future applications for ageing, undocumented assets.

• Scour is the biggest cause of bridge collapse in the world and asset owners strive to identify scour risk and implement mitigation.
• Despite detailed assessments and best intentions, scour can be unpredictable.
• This presentation focusses on strategies for managing scour at structures and recent lessons learned from unexpected events.

• Bridges that foster public life in towns and cities must typically satisfy a multitude of requirements, from security to placemaking.
• The design of public space on bridges must respond to use cases ranging from that of a solitary individual to a crowd of thousands.
• User modes are often contradictory, and careful consideration is needed to design public realm which can be shared safely by all.
• Keel Crossing in Sunderland exemplifies how a bridge, at the centre of an urban regeneration programme, responds to the needs of its city and its users.

•  Discussing how the Humber Bridge deals with distressed individuals currently.
•  What next? The use of an engineering intervention.

• Suicide risk on road and bridge infrastructure is often overlooked or underestimated
• Prevention must be embedded from the outset in design, planning, and operation of networks
• The Roads Leadership Group has issued new guidance integrating suicide prevention measures
• Insights are drawn from National Highways and other authorities to shape safer practices
• Collective responsibility is key: communities, organisations, and individuals all play a role in saving lives

• Review of the first six months of the new MCHW, which was launched in September 2025.
• Highlight some of the low-carbon opportunities now available for use now without departures.
• A look forward to future changes to the DMRB and MCHW including new ways to compile the work specific requirements, further steps in machine readability to enable human-assisted design and AI assisted authoring.