COUNTY officers have announced plans to dismantle Whorlton Bridge “piece by piece” before restoring and rebuilding it.
The grade-II listed structure was closed to vehicles in 2019 after the discovery of defects and then closed to all users in December 2021 when an investigation found it was in danger of “catastrophic collapse”.
Since then, government levelling-up funding was secured for its re-opening and investigations were conducted, leading to a detailed design for its repair.
VolkerLaser has been confirmed as the main contractor appointed by Durham County Council to carry out the repairs.
A council spokesperson said: “A compound will be constructed on site in the autumn, followed by the installation of a cable crane to dismantle the bridge piece by piece, before restoring and rebuilding the structure to its former glory.”
They added that an application for consent for the work is currently being considered by Historic England.
The scheduled monument, which is the UK’s earliest surviving iron suspension bridge, was opened in July 1831.
It was originally designed to carry horses and carts with coal from the Durham coalfields and after an assessment in 1914 was given a three-ton weight limit.
In December 1942 then prime minister Winston Churchill stood on the bridge to watch the training of soldiers.
Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for rural communities and highways, said: “We are delighted that we are one step closer to restoring the historic bridge to its former glory and would like to thank members of the public for their patience whilst the programme of repairs has been developed.”
