Four Bermuda bridges are to be repaired or replaced as part of an Island-wide review costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Canadian experts will begin a comprehensive engineering investigation of the Swing Bridge in St. George's next month.

Work will start to improve parapets and supports on the Causeway in early March.

The Fort George footbridge, which provides access to the fort and Harbour Radio HQ, will be replaced within weeks.

Contractors are already scheduled to start demolishing and replacing Somerset Bridge -- the world's smallest drawbridge -- by the end of February.

And Bermudian Ministers are already in talks with the US Government, which has responsibility for Long Bird Bridge, about improvements and maintenance.

Now senior officials in the Works and Engineering department are planning to build a huge computer database to record characteristics of all the Island's 40 bridges.

The desktop checklist will tell engineers exactly when each bridge is scheduled for a fresh inspection and overhaul.

Review officials even found a hidden tunnel under Fort George when they were examining the footbridge.

The tunnel could be used as an alternative access to the site.

Major overhaul set for bridges Principal Structural Engineer Christopher Andrews, in overall charge of the review, said: "We have drawn up a preliminary list of four critical bridges and priority will be given to them in the current financial year.

"A specialist engineering firm will be arriving from Canada within a few weeks to start the Swing Bridge investigation.

"The bridge will be tested for its structural, mechanical, electrical and control systems.

"We want to improve the operational reliability of the bridge and ensure its long-term integrity.

"After the investigation, we will carry out the required remedial work or repairs and if necessary even replace the bridge.'' The eight-week investigation will involve fieldwork, tests, analysis and talks with senior Government engineers, he added.

And Works and Engineering officers delved into the archives and examined original drawings before hiring the investigation team. Workmen will start upgrading the Causeway after years of erosion by waves damaged the parapets.

Mr. Andrews added: "We want to improve the visual characteristics of the Causeway.

"The parapets have suffered from the effects of wave action and were also damaged during the 1995 hurricane. They were replaced with concrete blocks and that's not ideal.

"The Causeway project will also include examining the support structures and they will be repaired as required.'' He said "every effort'' would be made to minimise traffic disruption during work on the Swing Bridge and Causeway.

And Mr. Andrews said Government officials were already preparing the tender for the Somerset Bridge rebuilding contract.

He added: "One of the most interesting features of the bridges review has surrounded Fort George. There is some corrosion on the steel footbridge and that provides access to the Harbour Radio headquarters.

"We will be replacing that bridge in the near future but we have actually found an old fort tunnel and stairwell which gives us a separate option for access to the fort. It may be that the tunnel is used for access for around two weeks while the bridge is out of action.''