Ep 7. Extreme Bridges

The World's Toughest Fixes is a hit television series that follows tough guy Sean Riley as he explores the most challenging infrastructure projects in the world. In season 2 episode 7, titled Extreme Bridges, Sean and his team take on some of the most daunting bridge-building projects on the planet.

The first bridge that Sean and his team tackle is the Penang Bridge in Malaysia. Spanning 13.5 kilometers, the Penang Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the world. The team's mission is to carry out maintenance work on the bridge without shutting it down for even a minute. It's a tense situation, as any mistake could result in catastrophic damage to the structure, which could in turn lead to loss of life and severe congestion in the area.

Next up is the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland, a 2.5-kilometer-long suspension bridge that spans the Firth of Forth. The bridge carries over 24 million vehicles per year, making it a vital link in Scotland's transport infrastructure. However, the bridge is in dire need of critical repairs, repairs that will require the team to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.

In addition, Sean and his team also take on the Hercilio Luz Bridge in Florianópolis, Brazil. This historic bridge is over 90 years old and is in urgent need of restoration. Reinforcing the bridge's foundations is the first step in the renovation process, but safely installing the necessary reinforcing materials is a daunting task.

Moving on to the Big Lift, a project that involves replacing the entire central span of the Huey P. Long Bridge in Louisiana, USA. The operation involved constructing a massive temporary support system capable of supporting the bridge's weight while the new span was being installed.

Finally, the team is faced with a challenging renovation project on the 120-year-old Tower Bridge in London. The bridge presents numerous challenges, starting with the fact that much of the equipment needed for the renovation must be powered by electricity from a barge parked some distance away.

Throughout the episode, Sean and his team work tirelessly to overcome the many challenges that they face on these five challenging bridge-building projects. Extreme Bridges is a must-see for anyone with an interest in engineering, architecture, or transport infrastructure, and promises an hour of thrills and spills as the team races against the clock to ensure that these vital structures remain standing for generations to come.