A new online platform aimed at increasing the reuse of structural steel in bridge work has been launched by engineering practices Expedition Engineering and Format Engineers.

Called Re-Bridge, the platform is designed to act as a shared marketplace and catalogue where asset owners, engineers, designers, local authorities and industry partners can list and locate existing bridge elements for direct reuse.

The organisations behind the site said it is intended to make it easier to match redundant or surplus components, such as whole spans, beams or other steelwork, with projects that could re-employ them, rather than send material for recycling or disposal.

Re-Bridge’s creators said direct reuse of structural steel can cut embodied carbon in construction, reduce material and project costs, extend the useful life of engineered elements and help retain durable infrastructure within the built environment. Re-Bridge is now live and open for contributions from across the sector where asset owners are being urged to catalogue structures or components that are unused, or due to replacement with no identified reuse route.

Re-Bridge follows the research-led Steel Reuse in Bridges report published last year, co-funded by the Useful Simple Trust and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). That research identified several practical reuse pathways, including whole-span relocation, repurposing and reclamation of components, and flagged non‑technical barriers that have held back wider adoption, such as certification, procurement practice and perceived risk. The report recommended further testing, cross‑industry collaboration and “resource-led” design approaches to scale circular infrastructure practices.

The platform has been developed with support from the Useful Simple Trust. Its backers argue the tool could help suppliers and owners unlock value from existing assets and accelerate a move towards a more circular economy in the infrastructure sector.

Reusing large structural elements requires careful assessment of condition, compatibility with new design requirements and compliance with building standards and insurance conditions.

Local authorities and principal contractors that have experimented with reusing bridges in the UK have reported mixed results. Successful cases have seen components re‑sited or repurposed after thorough inspection and adaptation but such projects typically demand early identification of opportunities and longer lead‑in times than conventional renewals.

Re-Bridge aims to address some of these practical challenges by improving visibility of available materials and fostering collaboration between those who hold redundant assets and those who need them.

Expedition Engineering associate structural engineer and co-author of Steel Reuse in Bridges Hazel Needham said: “Re-Bridge is about moving from theory to implementation.

“With the right tools and collaboration, existing spans can become valuable assets for new projects.”

Format Engineers associate engineer Camille Chevrier said: “This catalogue is the first step towards bridge stock-led-design.

“It will change the question from ‘what can we build?’ to ‘what do we already have?’. We’re redefining waste as a resource, one span at a time.”

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