Blackfriars Bridge restoration cost rises

The cost of repairing London’s iconic Blackfriars Bridge is going up.

A report going before the civic works committee next week suggests it will cost $2 million more than previously thought to complete the restoration.

When city staff put the repair work out to tender earlier this year they estimated the cost to be $5.9 million dollars, however the lowest bid the city received was for $7.9 million. Both figures are higher than the $4.6 million it was thought the restoration would cost during the environmental assessment process.

Staff note only two bids were made for the work, $7.9 million from McLean Taylor Construction Limited and $10.6 million from FACCA.

The reason for the increased cost is due to the nature of the work. The plan calls for the 142-year-old bridge to be dismantled, moved off site for repairs and then reassembled next year.

“This process does come with associated risks but it is offset by the greatly reduced risk of a work place accident during construction and of the public trying to cross the bridge while it is under construction,” said the report.

Staff say while the more thorough restoration comes with an additional cost, it also triples the projected service life of the bridge from 25 years to 75 years.

If the new cost is approved by the committee next Tuesday and city council after that, the work would begin in September. The report estimates the restoration to be complete by November 2018.