BRIDGES 2027 · CONFERENCE THEMES

Build to Last. Lead the Change

The third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) commits a record £8.4bn to renewing the strategic road network between 2026 and 2031, including major bridge schemes such as the M6 Lune Gorge and M32 Eastville Viaduct. Meanwhile, local authorities are competing for a share of the new DfT Structures Fund to repair ageing bridges, flyovers and tunnels. But funding for renewal work brings its own challenge: balancing delivery of new investment with the equally critical task of managing and maintaining an ageing bridge stock already under pressure. The focus now turns to delivery: controlling costs, strengthening asset management, building the skills the sector needs and extending the life of ageing structures, while embracing the innovation that will shape the next generation of bridges.

FIVE THEMES

What Bridges 2027 will cover

01

Delivering the UK’s Bridges Programme

Funding, Delivery Chain and Supply Chain

The Latest on Government Funding — An Update on Current Funding Landscapes and Priorities for Bridge and Infrastructure Investment
International Case Study: Replacing More Bridges with Less Money: Lessons from Pennsylvania's Large-Scale Bridge Bundling Initiative
02

Managing Ageing Bridges: Asset Management Under Pressure

The Day-to-Day Reality for Asset Owners and Structures Teams

Bridge Maintenance and Whole-life Asset Management
Strengthening and Rehabilitation of Ageing Structures
Beyond Strength: System Level Asset Criticality for Resilient Bridge Networks
Case study: Managing the Past, Learning for the Future — National Highways’ Historic Railway Estate and What it Teaches Us About Stewardship of Legacy Infrastructure
Research paper: Timber Bridge Failures: Findings and Lessons Learnt
03

Technology Transforming Bridge Inspection and Asset Management

Digital Twins, AI Condition Scoring and Structural Health Monitoring

Structural Health Monitoring and Inspection Technologies
Applications of AI and Digital Technologies in Bridge Management
Case study: Beneath the Surface: Precision Scour Risk with CFD and Real-Time Monitoring
04

Net Zero, Whole-Life Carbon and Climate-Resilient Bridges

Low-Carbon Materials, Whole-Life Costing and Climate-Resilient Design

Five Years of Net Zero Bridges Group: What Did We Learn and What Should We Do Next?
ReBridge - The First Central Database of Bridge Assets Available for Reuse in UK
International Case Study: Connecting Nkombo Island: Engineering a Long-Span Lifeline in Rural Rwanda
05

Building the Bridges Workforce of the Future

Closing the Capability Gap on Live Schemes

Building the Next Generation of Bridge Engineers
Below the Waterline: The Competence Iceberg Facing Bridge Maintenance
Bridges in the Spotlight: Communicating Risk Change and Uncertainty

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