BRIDGE CLEANING, ALGAE & GRAFFITI REMOVAL
Caerphilly County Borough Council - White Rose Railway Footbridge, Rhymney, CF82
Client's Challenge
Caerphilly County Borough Council required a specialist cleaning contractor to restore the White Rose Railway Footbridge in Rhymney, South Wales. Over time, the bridge had become heavily contaminated with algae and moss growth, with extensive graffiti across visible elevations. The contamination created two serious
issues:
• A visual and community impact – the bridge had become an eyesore within a residential area and key pedestrian
route.
• A safety risk – algae and moss on
pedestrian surfaces increased slip risk, particularly for local residents and
school children using the footway.
The Council required a safe, controlled and environmentally responsible solution that would return the bridge to a clean, presentable condition without causing damage to the bridge structure or disrupting surrounding rail operations.
Assessment & Planning
APT ICC completed a full assessment of
contamination levels, surface conditions and access requirements before works
commenced.
Working closely with Caerphilly County
Borough Council, we built a cleaning plan that prioritised:
• Safe pedestrian management
• Protection of sensitive surfaces and
historic elements
• Environmental controls and responsible waste handling
• Correct selection of cleaning methods to remove contamination without damage
This project required an experienced
specialist approach to ensure the bridge could be cleaned effectively while
maintaining full compliance in a complex access environment.
Methodology
Our bridge cleaning methodology was designed to remove heavy organic contamination and graffiti without compromising the underlying substrate.
Works included:
• Targeted pre-treatment of algae and moss build-up
• Controlled cleaning using appropriate low and high-pressure methods depending on surface condition and contamination level
• Specialist graffiti removal to lift paint from surfaces and reduce the risk of shadowing
• Careful use of more sensitive blasting
methods where required to avoid aggressive abrasion
All cleaning works were delivered by trained operatives experienced in working on public infrastructure assets and live environments.
Site Access & Logistics
Equipment
• Specialist high-level access equipment (as required for bridge elevations)
• Low / high-pressure washing systems with controlled application
• Specialist blasting equipment (where suitable for sensitive areas)
Chemicals
• Graffiti removal chemical gel (for lifting paint from bridge surfaces)
• Algae removal treatment (for heavy organic staining and spore kill)
• Additional surface-safe cleaning chemicals selected to match substrate and contamination type
If any chemical application was restricted by environmental controls on site, our team adapted the method accordingly to remain fully compliant.
The Results
APT ICC successfully restored the White Rose Railway Footbridge to a clean and presentable standard, removing heavy
algae contamination, moss build-up and extensive graffiti.
Key outcomes achieved included:
• Significantly improved appearance of the bridge within the local community
• Reduced slip risk by removing organic growth from pedestrian surfaces
• Full removal of graffiti across affected elevations
• Efficient completion using specialist
methods that avoided unnecessary repainting costs
The Council and local residents benefited from a safer, cleaner and more visually acceptable public asset that could continue to serve pedestrians without the hazards created by contamination.
