How to stop a colossal bridge corroding
A decade ago, engineers found the Humber Bridge had the same problem as many of the world’s suspension bridges: unexpectedly fast corrosion. Here’s how they fixed it, and how they’re checking that it’s staying fixed.
Thanks to all the team at the Humber Bridge board, at Cleveland Bridge, and Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, all of whom spent a lot of time and effort getting me up to the towers!
Aerial and ground camera by Octovision Media https://octovisionmedia.co.uk
Edited by Michelle Martin https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheCrux
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@TomScottGo
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
"Hey, Tom, do you want to go up the Humber Bridge?" Yes. Yes I do. And I'm amazed that I got access to the actual corrosion test gantries, because they're understandably sensitive about that!
@robertobryk4989
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
I don't get what was the overlooked factor when the lead paste was chosen as a waterproofing method. The interior of the cable varying in temperature doesn't seem to explain that in a way that's obvious to me.
@steve129s
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
RIP Jim Mawson
@nothanks5220
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Right before I'm about to travel on this 😂😂😂😂😂
Better not have corroded in the last 6 years 😂
@douro20
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
The cost of dehumidifying the cables must be positively enormous. Is it a toll bridge?
@Bassman-r3c
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Spent a lovely day at Far Ings nature reserve on the south bank of the Humber, visible in this video as a group of small lakes. 😊
@sabastian4858
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Curvature of the earth? 🤣😂😅
@mvb88
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Curbal haha that's what I'm hearing. I know he means cable but his accent makes it sound like curbal
@paulkurilecz4209
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Even two years later it is still a great video.
@BiGprOtein65g
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
What are the running costs? Of maintenance
@joewoodchuck3824
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Linseed oil isn't a good long term protectant. Maybe that fact wasn't known at the time of use. If the lead powder changed that characteristic, I'm not aware of it. But certainly there are better methods now anyway.
@CaitlinMaguire-g6g
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Why not use stainless steel wire?
@mnbv990
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
And it still connects nowhere to nowhere.
@dinosantos1049
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Hahaha if they accounted for the curve it'd be 8'' not a couple. Sort your heads out….. there is no curvature
@nik-sv7vs
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
So happy i found this video i live near the bridge and always wondered whats inside the structures and road. So thank you
@user-mr7kr9ce1b
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Where is proof of this mysterious curvature that seems only visible on gopro cameras?
@roberthowe2910
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Greatest bridge ever…
@heavenlymonkey
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
"Have you tried a dehumidifier?"
@Bigrignohio
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Wonder how they pre-tension the new 5 meter length of wire?
@SnootchieBootchies27
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
American infrastructure will be falling apart constantly…
@Fishingadventureuk
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
It would have been more efficient to build a tunnel
@longsweep1
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Didn’t knew that
@rcyrilj
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Telephone companies have been pumping dry air and / or nitrogen into their cables for over 70 years to keep water / moisture out – nothing new about this.
@davidepperson2376
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Ugh – that bogeyman called “dreaded cutbacks”
@peterjaniceforan3080
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
🇬🇧👷🏻♂️🫡
@noniousxltruffles7454
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
That bridge was WAAAAY over budget and MASSIVELY delayed by strikes 😠
The building crews KNEW they had the building companies and councils over a barrel whenever they wanted a change in what they were paid and/or other employment contract terms.
I remember there being REGULAR reports on Calendar that the bridge workers were on strike AGAIN 🤬
It became a laughing stock 😡
@RobH.
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Just a couple, just a couple of centimeters further apart at the top, because of what, the curvature of you brain! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@ttt7614
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
You did not explain clearly how dehumidified air is pumped into the cables. You can use schematics to explain clearly. also note that dehumidified air has to travel hundreds of meters along the cables. by the time it reaches the end of the cable, the pressure would have dropped significantly
@Chris-cu9go
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Did he just say because of the curvature of the Earth ,where the hell did he get that from a bridge? That isn’t even that long or high enough to be affected by the curvature of the earth
@thorbjrnhellehaven5766
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
0:29 Are you sure it's cm?
I tried to calculate, and got about 4 mm
I used:
span: 1410 m
tower height 155.5 m
earth radius: 6371 km
difference: 3.8 mm
@tgm6521
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Yo Tom, Please come back we miss these videos. These are a breath of fresh air compared to all the AI slop being spewed out by most creators these days.
@pisceanogre
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
It’s quite a very interesting video you got there. Very cool thanks a lot.
@tonkajjz109
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Built by Cleveland bridge in Darlington
@wgj4813
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 am
Pity they didnt manage to get to the Forth and Severn bridges. Or have they?
Comments are closed.