DELAYS in testing mean that Whorlton Bridge may not be re-opened to traffic until May next year.
County officers had hoped to start planning and completing repairs to the grade II-listed structure between July this year and March 2023, but problems with investigation work forced contractors to leave the site before Christmas, causing the hold up.
The completion date has now been pushed back at least two months.
It’s not the first time the project has been delayed – Durham County Council had originally planned to finish all the work by next month.
The bridge, which was built in 1831, was shut to vehicles in July 2019 after an inspection showed a safety defect. It was closed to all traffic, including walkers and cyclists, in December 2020 when a further inspection revealed it was in danger of a catastrophic collapse.
A spokesperson for Durham County Council said there had been issues with the initial proposed method to separate chain links for inspection, resulting in the contractors leaving the site late last year. However, they are due to return this month.
The spokesperson said: “The delays experienced during the investigation and testing period have unfortunately had an impact on the overall programme.”
Residents celebrated last year when it was announced that part of a £20million pot of government levelling up cash for the Bishop Auckland constituency would be used to pay for the repairs. Historic England granted scheduled monument consent for the testing and investigation work to take place in July last year, but officers must apply for further consent for the required strengthening and refurbishment works.
Paul Watson, Durham County Council’s strategic highways manager, said: “With older structures such as Whorlton Bridge, it is not until we do more detailed investigative works that we can assess the true extent of their condition.
“During this inspection it has become apparent that additional investigative works are required and we are currently reviewing how best to do this. As soon as we have undertaken this review and the contractor has completed their outstanding investigations, we will be able to progress with the detailed designs.
“We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we complete this project. We will continue to provide updates on a revised programme as soon as we are able to.”
The bridge was originally designed to carry horses and carts with coal from the Durham coalfields, to the south.
In 1914 the structure was assessed and it was given a three-ton weight limit, which currently remains.
In December 1942 then prime minister Winston Church stood on the bridge to watch the training of soldiers. It is the UK’s oldest road suspension bridge and its deck is totally supported by its original iron chains.
