Kingsferry Bridge repairs

We are carrying out repairs to the iconic Kingsferry Bridge, replacing the 40 steel ropes which lift the bridge for maritime traffic.

The Kingsferry Bridge was built in the 1950’s and is a vital rail, road, pedestrian and cycle link for the people of Sheppey. It is also vital for the movement of billions of pounds worth of goods by ship each year.

What are we doing?

The bridge utilises 40 steel ropes to lift the bridge deck. These ropes were last replaced in 1995 and are now coming to the end of their life. Recent Magnetic Resonance Testing (MRT) has found the some of the ropes have degraded and urgently need replaced.

We are replacing the 40 steel ropes in a series of staggered closures to allow the local community and commercial shipping worth billions of pounds to the national economy to pass under it.

How are the works progressing?

We have successfully completed the replacement of 16 counterweight ropes, which balance the bridge deck during lifts, and 12 of the main lifting ropes.

The final 12 ropes will be replaced over an 8-day closure from 2200, Friday 25 October to 0500, Sunday 3 November.

Why is more work needed?

We were unable to complete the replacement of all the ropes as we found faults in parts of the bridge which hadn’t been seen since the ropes were last replaced 30 years ago.

It was only when we removed circa 553 25kg counterweight plates, which help balance the bridge deck, and other equipment within the bridge that a full assessment of the bridge condition could be undertaken. These unforeseeable issues needed to be resolved before we could continue with the rope replacement.

We are sorry that additional access will be needed but unfortunately when working with an asset as unique and as difficult to maintain as the Kingsferry Bridge, the risk of running into challenges is high.

When the ropes were last replaced in the 1990s they were completed more quickly?

Some people have commented that the work was done more quickly when the ropes were replaced in the 1990s. While this is true, safety standards have moved on considerably since that time. The methods used then are simply not acceptable today. Yes, the work takes longer, but we are keeping our operatives, and the bridge, safer by using modern methods.

Why can’t the works be delayed?

As a reminder to people in the area, we need to get the work done now to remove this risk of failure in winter. If the bridge failed unplanned in winter, the disruption would be much more significant, and the work would take longer. We would have to mobilise a team of ropes specialists at short notice and there aren’t many of them available. High winds in winter could stop work and close the Sheppey Crossing, completely cutting the island off.

We want to remove that risk and have taken the difficult decision to do the work now, despite the challenges people have faced, due to the combined impact of the Kingsferry Bridge closures and other roadworks in the area.

What are the benefits?

The risk of a sudden unplanned closure of the bridge due to a rope failure will have been removed.

The ropes on the bridge will safely and reliably lift the bridge for another 30 years, supporting the local economy and the people of Sheppey and north east Kent.

Doing the work in summer reduces the risk of Sheppey Crossing closing due to high winds while work on Kingsferry is taking place.

Doing the work as part of carefully planned programme allows local people and vital shipping to plan around the closure.

Keeping people moving

To help manage the impact on local people and roads, Network Rail and Kent County Council have agreed a number of measures to help keep people moving.

Network Rail and Kent County Council have agreed that the traffic management from the northbound A249 will be temporarily removed. It has been agreed that all requests for non-emergency roadworks in the area will be turned down when the Kingsferry Bridge is closed.

Free recovery will be in place from Bobbing Roundabout to Cowstead Corner to clear accidents and breakdowns quickly.

A rail replacement bus will move rail passengers, and people are encouraged to use it to help minimise the number of cars on the roads. A shuttle bus will be in place to move pedestrians and cyclists, as well as under 50cc mopeds and their riders.

Get in touch

For more information call our National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41, visit our contact us page, or contact us on X @NetworkRailSE.