The historic Linton Bridge in Leeds has been closed since the end of 2015, when it suffered serious damage during Storm Eva. Now Leeds City Council has announced that the structure is due to reopen at the beginning of September following extensive repair work.
During the floods caused by Storm Eva, the bridge suffered serious damage to its foundations, with cracks appearing in two of its arches, damage to the parapets and walls of the bridge, and the south pier visibly sinking.
Because the bridge is Grade II listed, Leeds City Council has been working closely with Historic England during the repair works, as well as liaising with the Environment Agency.
In total, there have been three stages to the repairs for the 19th century crossing of the River Wharfe, and special concrete that’s suitable for use underwater has been used to secure and shore up the bridge’s foundations.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, described it as a “massively demanding” project from both a physical and technical perspective.
“The solution to effectively create a ‘bridge within a bridge’ so it is stronger than ever but still looks the same as it did before is a real credit to the talent and ingenuity of all involved,” he stated.
Flooding can cause substantial damage to structures like bridges that often bear the full force of the flood waters. In the Cornish village of Coverack, it’s estimated that the repair bill is likely to be well over £1 million following the flash floods there in July.
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