A bridge on the M62 is to remain shut for another year, having been closed to the public for major repair work since March 2022.
Two lanes on the eastbound carriage-way of the Ouse Bridge, near Goole in East Yorkshire, will not open until autumn 2023.
They were originally closed earlier this year to allow engineers to repair a damaged bridge joint. One lane was later re-opened in July to “ease congestion for thousands of drivers in East Yorkshire”, the National Highways stated.
However, this was always just a temporary measure, as eight joints need to be removed and replaced across both carriageways, with the repair work expected to take a further 12 months.
A spokesperson from the National Highways stated: “This autumn we will begin to install the second set of plates across the damaged joint on the eastbound carriage-way and then complete the replacement of two joints by spring 2023.”
The organisation explained that four joints will be replaced on the westbound carriageway, before the same takes place on the eastbound one.
Due to the Ouse Bridge’s “complex” structure and 50-year age, all the joints need replacing to make sure the structure is secure and safe for motorists. It noted that current joints on the bridge are now obsolete, which means alterations to concrete elements of the bridge need to take place to fit new joints.
The National Highways thanked drivers for their “ongoing patience” during this long period of repair work.
In the meantime, a contraflow is in operation to connect Hull with the rest of the country.
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