In August this year, during a summer which saw both temperatures and rainfall pushed to the extremes, the Whaley Bridge dam collapse brought into sharp relief the need to protect UK infrastructure against the effects of climate change.
This incident, which will take up to three years to repair, is seen as a foreshadow of worse to come, as extreme weather becomes more common in the coming years. While experts’ assessments evaluate the UK’s infrastructure as being in good overall condition, some areas are of more concern than others.
One of the main problems is that existing structures were built to withstand the weather conditions and capacity demands of their time. Not only are these structures weakened by the usual wear and tear that comes with age, but they are also unprepared for increasingly volatile conditions coupled with soaring demand. Failure to take preventive measures right now will lead to more frequent infrastructure failures in the future.
Much of the rail network was built in the Victorian era, and although extensive repairs are ongoing throughout the country, they are extremely costly and cause massive disruption to travel. Yet this work is imperative: railway lines are constantly exposed to fluctuating temperatures, which are becoming both higher in summer and lower in winter, and to storms, which are increasing in intensity. The new infrastructure must also be able to cope with increasing demand on rail services.
The UK’s water system also dates largely from the Victorian period. Burst pipes and leaks are on the rise, and the Whaley Bridge incident has highlighted the need to be more vigilant with dam safety. An already-weakened system will be more susceptible to damage during storm events, such as a month’s rainfall in one day, which could aggravate the effects of weather events by causing flooding and affecting water supply.
The motorway network, dating from the 1950s, accounts for 1% of the road network but carries 21% of the traffic. Like the railways, improvements are being carried out to prepare motorways for heavier traffic and more extreme weather by increasing capacity and carrying out repairs, but the process itself is slow and causes further delays to travellers. On smaller roads, there are concerns over ancient structures such as bridges, which are at risk of being swept away, and the consequent safety of road users.
Demand on airport infrastructure has increased massively since their construction in 1945, and continues to increase exponentially, causing a capacity crisis. Add to this the exposure to more extreme weather and temperatures, and it becomes clear that airport infrastructure will need to be modernised to avoid future travel chaos.
Falling power lines could spell disaster in the future: not only will they leave homes and businesses without power, risking public health and damaging the economy, but also potentially causing casualties and fatalities by falling on roads and railways. Moreover, power stations located in coastal areas will be susceptible to damage from storm surges and rising sea levels.
Clearly, the UK needs to prepare its infrastructure for climate change. More frequent inspections of the most vulnerable structures, such as transport and water, will help to identify potential problems.
Once identified, disaster can be prevented through structural strengthening using modern technological solutions, such as Fibrwrap. This carbon fibre wrapping enhances structural capacity with minimal disturbance compared to other conventional methods, and can be used for pipe rehabilitation and fibre wrapping concrete columns and other support structures.
The UK’s infrastructure may not yet be prepared for climate change, but preventive action will be our greatest defence against what’s to come.