North Yorkshire Council has appointed Fairfields to maintain four swing bridges for the next four years under a contract worth around £400,000.
The contract, which started on 2 September 2026, covers the Whitby, Cawood, Selby Town and A63 Bypass swing bridges. It includes planned maintenance, emergency call-out, and technical support for the bridges’ mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and control systems.
How swing bridges work
A swing bridge performs two key tasks: it carries road traffic, then pivots clear to allow boats to pass. This requires multiple systems to operate in sequence: stopping road traffic, releasing the bridge deck, rotating it on its pivot, and then returning and locking it before traffic resumes.
Each bridge's mechanical drives, hydraulic systems, power supplies and control logic must function together reliably. A fault in any one system can prevent the bridge from opening or closing.
Maintenance contract details
The contract covers routine servicing, task orders for additional works, and advisory reports to ensure safe operation. It also includes a 24-hour emergency call-out service with a guaranteed response within three hours, crucial to managing any operational stoppages quickly.
With an estimated cost of £400,000 over four years, the contract averages about £100,000 annually across the four moving bridges. This is consistent with the previous two-year contract Fairfields held, which was worth £175,800. Fairfields emphasises that routine maintenance helps prevent the need for costly major refurbishments.
Where it fits in UK infrastructure
Fairfields is home-based in Nottinghamshire and has deep experience with these asset types. The company supplied the original control system for the A63 Bypass Swing Bridge and has maintained the Whitby Swing Bridge for over 15 years. The current contract expands their role to all four bridges.
The council’s open tender process concluded with Fairfields retaining the contract after it ended on 1 September. Fairfields currently maintains more than 20 moving bridges across the UK, including London's Tower Bridge.
What it means for road users
For drivers on the A63 at Selby, and for road users in Whitby, Selby and Cawood, the contract ensures continuity in maintaining these complex assets. Keeping the same specialist responsible reduces risk and supports reliable operations over the coming years.
This appointment follows another recent Fairfields contract for a five-year maintenance deal on Renfrew Swing Bridge in Scotland, underlining their role in UK swing bridge maintenance.
Separately, North Yorkshire Council also confirmed a £50m civil engineering framework appointing 16 contractors, demonstrating ongoing investment in local infrastructure.
