Paul Mitchell

Consultant Engineer, Roughan & O’Donovan

Paul Mitchell, M.Sc., B.E., C.Eng. M.I.E.I, is a Bridge Engineer and Project Manager with over 25 years’ experience in the assessment, design and construction of bridge projects. He specialises in the design of long span and moveable bridge structures. His duties include the analysis, design, and detailing of a variety of road, river and rail structures from Tender design to completion as well as general contract management, administration and supervision roles and also including Project Supervisor Design Process duties.

Paul has significant experience of all stages of project development and specific requirements for the design of bridges as standalone projects and as part of significant civil engineering schemes both on Employer Designed Projects and Contractor Designed Projects.

My Sessions at Bridges 2026

Wednesday 11 March 2026

14:00

Engineering Motion on the Clyde: The Renfrew Swing Bridge

14:00 - 14:20

  • 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.

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