Cleveland Bridge, a Grade II listed structure in Bath, is set to undergo repair work to ensure it can continue to provide passage across the River Avon for thousands of vehicles each day.
The BBC reported that Bath and North East Somerset Council have applied for government funds to help pay for the repair work, which is described by councillor Neil Butters as “one of the most significant road maintenance projects the council has undertaken for many years”.
Up to 17,000 vehicles use the bridge each day, which provides a shortcut from junction 18 of the M4 to the south coast.
While the council is waiting to hear about the funding for the repairs, it has introduced a temporary weight restriction on vehicles over 18 tonnes.
Mr Butters said that this was a “precautionary measure”. The news provider revealed that it will impact about 600 vehicles per day.
The work that’s proposed for the bridge includes repairing the concrete truss, strengthening the concrete deck of the bridge and carrying out waterproofing and resurfacing works.
Refurbishing and repainting the original cast iron arches and parapets is also included in the project. The council has warned that if the repairs aren’t carried out, then the bridge will need to be permanently closed to vehicles weighing more than 18 tonnes.
This isn’t the only council in the UK that has requested government funding for help with a bridge repair project recently. Coventry Observer recently reported that Solihull Council is expected to ask the Department for Transport for £4.5 million to replace Fillongley Road bridge on the A45.
Concerns over the strength of the bridge’s beams and bearings, which is approaching the end of its 60 year lifespan, have been growing since works to repair it were announced in 2017. These works have yet to begin.
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