Underwater Scour Inspections and Reports for 43 Dublin Bridges

Dublin City Council has directly awarded a contract to Equilibrant Ltd to conduct underwater scour inspections on 43 bridges and prepare detailed reports. This contract was awarded under Article 32 Clause 3(c) of Directive 2014/24/EU due to extreme urgency following severe rainfall events and a TII circular (02/2026) issued on 29 January 2026. The scope involves inspecting bridges that span rivers and canals, with particular focus on masonry arch bridges and structures with river-bed piers on shallow pad foundations. Scour—the erosion of material around bridge foundations caused by water action—is the leading cause of bridge failures over the past 100 years. Dublin's bridges are particularly vulnerable due to their design and location. Climate change has increased flood frequency and water levels, elevating scour risk. Inspections will be conducted in accordance with specifications prepared by AtkinsRéalis. The successful contractor must have expertise in underwater structural assessment, scour risk evaluation, and detailed reporting on bridge foundation integrity.