Gull Wing's final bascule section arrives in Lowestoft

The main and final bascule span of the town's long-awaited £145 million third crossing arrived having crossed the North Sea from the Netherlands.

Lake Lothing will now be closed to marine traffic for three weeks from Friday while the main bascule span is installed.

Watching from the sides was 91-year-old Robert Wigg who never thought he would see the third crossing built in his lifetime.

Robert Wigg pictured in front of the final section of the bridge (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Rober Wigg (right), Nicol High from Farrans (centre) and Mr Wigg's daughter Julie Williams (left) (Image: Sonya Duncan)He said: "My dad told me back in 1946 when I was fishing with him that Lowestoft needed a third crossing.

"He said I won’t see it in my lifetime and said I won’t see it in mine, so to actually see it approach completion is just amazing and quite unbelievable.

"I bet my daughter £10 many years ago that it won't happen in her lifetime and it is a bet I am happy to pay off.

"It has been really interesting to see the development progress and I hope I get to see it actually completed."

Collin Giddins was excited to see the final section of the bridge delivered (Image: Bruno Brown)

Colin Giddins, 83, had worked on the docks for 30 years and was in the crowd watching the eighth section of the bridge arrive while communicating with friends and people in the watch tower by walkie-talkie.

Mr Giddins said: "Anything that happens on the docks I am just pleased to see things happen, just like when the silo opposite was built.

"This place is my life and has been for so long. I used to do welding on the docks and I find anything which happens down here really interesting.

“I think that bridge will be brilliant for the town when it is up and in operation."

Tony Woreey has lived in Lowestoft for the past 20 years after moving down from Hertfordshire with his wife (Image: Bruno Brown)

But Tony Woreey, 79, expressed disappointment that the bridge sections were built abroad.

"It seems ridiculous and a dreadful shame we haven’t built the bridge ourselves and have actually had to pay another country to get it done for us.

"This country used to lead the way for construction, innovation, and engineering so I do think it’s upsetting we haven’t built it ourselves.

"But I can't deny that I think it will be hugely exciting for the town and reduce traffic in the centre."

The bridge's final section in front of the silo (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The bascule span is 39.5m long, 22m wide and 35m tall and will weigh 1,120 tonnes when delivered to the site and positioned.

This is made up of 750 tonnes of permanent structural steelwork and an additional 370 tonnes of temporary ballast to ensure the bridge's stability during installation.

The bridge, when installed, will sit clear of the highest tide by 12m, meaning that the tips of the J-beams will usually be well over 50m above the sea below.

When the bridge is rolled back in the open position, the end of the bridge span that carries the road will be over 60m above the tide below.

Crowds watching as the eighth section of the bridge arrives (Image: Mick Howes)

The completed bascule bridge will be the largest rolling bascule bridge in the world lifted using hydraulic cylinders.

When the bridge opens it will provide an essential link from Waveney Drive (south) to Denmark Road and Peto Way (north) of Lake Lothing.

READ MORE: Huge bridge span weighing 1,120 tonnes to arrive in town

BRIDGE SECTION WELCOMED

Cllr Matthew Hicks, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “The arrival of the bascule span into Lowestoft signals that we are in the home stretch of this significant project.

"The long-awaited Gull Wing bridge will make travel between north and south Lowestoft easier, reduce traffic congestion, and be a catalyst for regeneration.

"It is a promise delivered for the people of Lowestoft and Suffolk.”

The section of the bridge arriving at Lake Loathing (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Tristram Browne, Project Manager for Farrans Construction, said: “The arrival of the signature sections of the Gull Wing bridge is another exciting milestone for our team, our client and for the town of Lowestoft.

"The forthcoming installation is a highly technical and challenging feat of civil engineering which will take place over the next three weeks.

"Our team is well prepared and we are looking forward to working with our supply chain to safely install and commission the bascule bridge span, progressing this important project further towards completion. 

“We hope that the anticipation surrounding this project will inspire more young people to consider the career opportunities that exist within this industry, and we have been proud to deliver many workshops and site visits for local schools since the start of this project.”

The bridge has been hailed huge for the town (Image: Mick Howes)