WHORLTON Bridge may not be repaired for another two years after council chiefs pushed back their anticipated programme of repairs.
In January, Durham County Council said it hoped to complete strengthening work on the closed bridge by March next year.
But in their latest update, county chiefs said the work is expected to take place between July 2022 and March 2023. The news comes as the council ruled out any possibility of creating an alternative crossing of the River Tees between Whorlton and Wycliffe. Residents of both villages have complained that they are cut off from each another unless they take a long detour. A council spokesperson said: “Consideration of an alternative crossing has been given.
“However, there are significant access issues for construction and the costs involved would be significantly prohibitive.
“The construction and presence of an alternative crossing over or adjacent to the existing structure would also cause an obstruction to completion of some of the repair works.”
Whorlton Bridge, which was constructed in 1829, was shut to motorists “temporarily” in July 2019 after a routine inspection showed a “safety defect” .
The bridge, a scheduled monument, initially remained open to pedestrians and cyclists. However, a full closure of the bridge was announced in December 2020 after investigations suggested the structure was too weak to allow residents to walk and cycle across. There were fears of a “catastrophic collapse” .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps this year suggested that funding for repairs could come from the Government’s £4billion “levelling up” cash.
A county council cabinet report published last week said it hopes to get £6million for Whorlton Bridge from the funding pot. It says the money would be used for the “reopening of Whorlton Bridge to NCN165 and local connectivity” . The NCN165 is a cycle route. The latest programme of repairs shows that a Scheduled Ancient Monument consent application would be submitted in April and an investigation into the bridge carried out in July and August.
A plan for the repairs would be drawn up between October 2021 and June next year with the work taking place between July 2022 and March 2023. The council previously said only then would it review the future use of the bridge. A spokesman said no decisions have been made about whether vehicles will again be able to use it.
