A NEW strategy for Cumberland's bridges and structures has been approved by councillors.

Members of Cumberland Council's highways and transport strategic board met at Allerdale House in Workington on Thursday (October 24).

They considered the Highways Bridges and Structures Management Strategy and it was recommended that they approved the document.

According to the strategy the Cumberland Highways Bridges and Structures Team are responsible for:

  • 759 bridges which are a mixture of masonry arches, reinforced concrete deck slabs, post tensioned bridges, prestressed bridge beams decks, steel beams composite construction, filler decks and other more obscure construction types;
  • 527 culverts which are a mixture of concrete slabs, masonry slabs, reinforced concrete box structures, masonry arches and masonry slab construction and large diameter pipes;
  • There are a significant number of retaining walls that are owned and maintained by the council;
  • Cumberland Council Highways Bridges and Structures Team are responsible for four lengths of sea walls that are in total over 1.3km long.

The report concludes: "The management of the maintenance of highway bridges and structures is vital to maintain the highway network in a safe and reliable condition.

"The development of this Highways Bridges and Structures Management Strategy is to ensure that a suitably structured procedure and strategy is implemented for the bridges and structures within the Cumberland area."