Spencer Group up for prestigious engineering award for Humber Bridge work

The iconic Grade One-listed Humber Bridge was once the world’s longest suspension bridge

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Phil WinterHull Live Business Editor

16:40, 22 JAN 2020

Hull-based Spencer Group’s project to extend the life expectancy of the Humber Bridge has been shortlisted for a prestigious civil engineering award.

The iconic Grade One-listed Humber Bridge was once the world’s longest suspension bridge.

Spencer Group was drafted in to inspect, repair and replace the bridge’s hangers – the super-strength steel strands which suspend the bridge deck from the main cables.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has now announced the Humber Bridge Spencer Group’s project has been shortlisted for recognition in its 2020 Yorkshire and Humber Awards.

Joe DiMauro, site agent at Spencer Group, said: “When the bridge was built, the hangers were expected to require replacing multiple times during its design life.

“If, through a proactive approach to maintenance, the hanger life can be extended and the total number of replacements can be reduced, this will lead to significant reductions in life cycle cost and the overall disruption of bridge users.

“We are delighted that such a unique civil engineering project has been shortlisted.”

Three hangers on the bridge were accessed and removed, one by one, using a custom-built platform at heights of up to 65m above the estuary, and 15m above the Humber Bridge road surface.

At the time, the chief executive at the said the work was “essential” for the long-term safety of the bridge.

Spencer Group is based in Humber Quays, Hull

It was not the first time that Spencer Group had worked on the Humber Bridge.

In 2015, a complex £4m Humber Bridge project delivered by the Hull engineering company was nominated for the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award, part of the British Construction Industry Awards.

Spencer Group’s latest project is one of nine from across the region to be shortlisted for the Smeaton Award at the 2020 ICE Yorkshire & Humber Awards.

The award recognises projects valued at £5m or under.

Penny Marshall, ICE’s regional director for Yorkshire and Humber said: “The standards of entries we have seen this year is exceptionally high and the judges now have a very difficult task ahead of them.

Charlie Spencer, executive chairman at Spencer Group (Image: srenilson)

“There are thousands of civil engineers in Yorkshire and Humber that work tirelessly to design, improve and maintain the infrastructure that we rely on, and these awards are a great opportunity to highlight the positive impact their work has on our lives.”

In 2019, the Smeaton Award was won by Knostrop Footbridge.

This year’s winners will be revealed at ICE’s annual black-tie gala dinner at Sheffield City Hall on March 6.

For more information on the shortlisted projects, visit .