ROADS and Maritime Services is trialling a new cathodic protection system aimed at preventing corrosion on part of Cockle Creek Bridge, on Five Islands Road, Speers Point.
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Cathodic protection is used on large steel-reinforced concrete structures such as bridges and buildings to reduce maintenance costs and prolong the life of the structure, an RMS spokesperson said.
"The system works by connecting the metal structure of the bridge to a more easily corroded metal, which attracts corrosion and protects the critical part of the structure," the spokesperson said.
"If the trial is successful, the cathodic protection system will be installed to all parts of the original southbound Cockle Creek bridges. This work will significantly reduce future maintenance costs and traffic interruptions for these activities."
Full installation would take about six months.
It would proceed next year only if the trial was successful.
The trial started on July 21 and is expected to take about eight weeks to complete.
Work is carried out Monday to Friday from 6am to 4pm, mostly from a barge in Cockle Creek.
Signs and marker buoys are in place and boats will not be affected, the RMS said.
