Whorlton Bridge is set to reopen earlier than predicted.
And Durham County Council has confirmed that the road linking the surrounding communities to the bridge will be repaired.
Members of the public attending a meeting in the village hall before Christmas were told by the council’s strategic highways manager Paul Anderson that the Grade II-listed suspension bridge was unlikely to be open to traffic before October 2026.
But a new statement from Mr Anderson suggests an opening date of late summer.
He said: “Work on Whorlton Bridge is progressing well and represents an investment of more than £12m for the council.
“The redesign is now complete, and new components have been manufactured for the structure, which allowed work to reassemble the bridge to begin on Wednesday, March 11.
“The new deck for the bridge is due to be installed in June in time for the bridge reopening later this summer, once all ancillary works are complete.
“The repairs underway are essential to ensuring the bridge can continue to provide a safe route across the River Tees for generations to come.
“However, as a scheduled monument, its restoration has been an intricate process, with special consent required for all work.”
Whorlton Bridge, which opened in 1831, was closed to traffic in 2019, and to pedestrians a year later.
The road linking the village to the bridge is in a poor state of repair, as is the road through Whorlton.
Residents concerned that the road would not be repaired once the bridge reopened will be reassured by the latest council statement.
Mr Anderson said: “The bridge and nearby road provide a vital link between Whorlton village and nearby communities and will be repaired as part of our restoration work so it can once again become a useful route for visitors and residents.
“We would like to thank members of the public for their patience during the restoration process.”
