A £1m scheme of extensive works to repair and refurbish a historic Victorian footbridge "is progressing", a council has said.
Restoration of the 19th century Jubilee Bridge in Lowestoft - a designated listed structure - had started in September 2022.
With a road and footpath closed at The Ravine, works were scheduled to last until May 12 this year - running for almost eight months.
However, repairs to the Ravine Bridge were temporarily stopped for "safety reasons" earlier this year "following unforeseen delays".
Now, with works ongoing, the steel works team has been on site carrying out repairs since June.
An East Suffolk Council spokesman said: "Work is progressing on the restoration of the Ravine Bridge, in Lowestoft, and we are hopeful that the programme of works will be completed by mid-December.
"Repairs were delayed for safety reasons earlier this year when key structural areas of the bridge – uncovered during the blast cleaning phase of the works and removal of steel plates installed as part of a previous repair – showed greater corrosion than had been anticipated.
"An updated temporary works design was required to enable work to restart with a modified repair strategy taking into account the condition of the bridge and enabling the existing concrete deck to be carefully removed.
"This then allowed steel work contractors to continue the repair of the structure, according to a very specific sequencing, due to the nature of the bridge and to ensure that surrounding elements are in the best condition possible when a section requires removal.
"A further extension of the programme of works is required each time subsequent section removal reveals worse than expected loss.
"This has required structural engineers to make revisions to designs being undertaken by contractors in order to ensure any resolutions conform to Listed Building Consent approval granted for the works."
Background
The bridge - which runs from Belle Vue Park over The Ravine - has been temporarily closed since safety concerns were raised during an inspection in December 2020.
In October 2021, East Suffolk Council and Lowestoft Town Council confirmed they were working together to finalise a "programme of repairs" to the Victorian footbridge that was built in 1887 to celebrate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Plans were lodged with East Suffolk Council in December 2021 to "repair and refurbish the acknowledged designated heritage asset" which was suffering "substantial decay and corrosion."
A month later East Suffolk's scrutiny committee looked at £1m of funding being allocated for structural works and refurbishment.
In February last year the repair scheme for the bridge - which has been listed since 1993 - was approved, leading to a scheme of "extensive" works that started last September.
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