Strengthening Bridge Inspection Capability

Earlier this month, TWI delivered a CSWIP 3.0 Visual Welding Inspection course in Inverness for 11 bridge engineers and inspectors from BEAR Scotland.

This course focused on strengthening confidence and consistency in visual inspection and reporting practices – an essential requirement for teams responsible for maintaining some of Scotland’s most critical bridge assets. Amongst these is the Kessock Bridge, a key structure operated and maintained by BEAR on behalf of Transport Scotland, which alone contains approximately 70 km of welds requiring regular visual inspection and maintenance by the Inverness Major Bridges team.

In addition to inspection activity, BEAR Scotland designs and delivers a wide range of steelwork schemes across Transport Scotland’s bridge assets in the Northwest of the Scottish trunk road network. These schemes vary significantly in scale and complexity, making robust inspection knowledge and clear reporting processes vital.

Reflecting on the training, James Duthie CEng MICE, Principal Bridge Engineer at BEAR Scotland (Northeast), commented that the team found the course both informative and engaging, adding that it has provided increased confidence in how inspections are carried out and documented.

About CSWIP 3.0 Visual Welding Inspection

The CSWIP 3.0 Visual Welding Inspection course supports engineers and inspectors by developing a practical understanding of weld quality, common defects, and acceptance criteria - helping organisations maintain safety, compliance, and asset longevity.

TWI continues to work closely with infrastructure owners, operators, and engineering teams across the UK to provide industry-recognised training that directly supports real-world inspection and maintenance challenges.

For more information on the course, visit our website or contact us at trainexams@twi.co.uk.