A five-year contract to maintain the bridges over the Medway at Rochester has been awarded to an infrastructure services contractor in Kent.

FM Conway, based in Dartford, will look after the Grade II listed Rochester Old Bridge, the 1970s New Bridge and the Service Bridge, as well as associated assets owned by Rochester Bridge Trust.

It has worked previously for the charity on a project to clean and inspect the river wall below Rochester Esplanade.

The company begins the work today, with the possibility of earning a five-year extension at the end of the contract, which covers cleaning the highways and footpaths and carrying out minor repairs.

Sue Threader, chief executive of Rochester Bridge Trust, said it hired the firm because it is “one of the UK’s leading independent construction companies”, which has won several awards.

FM Conway chief executive Michael Conway said: “Our bridges and structures division has successfully delivered a string of major projects across the South East, including the renovation of Putney Bridge last year and the recent reconstruction of the Hogarth Flyover.

“This is a true area of specialism for our business, and we are extremely pleased to be able to bring this expertise to bear for the Rochester Bridge Trust and its portfolio of iconic bridges.”