MAINTENANCE work on Lowestoft's Bascule Bridge is finally due to finish at the beginning of December - nearly a year after it was originally planned.The Highways Agency has been carrying out a £2.
MAINTENANCE work on Lowestoft's Bascule Bridge is finally due to finish at the beginning of December - nearly a year after it was originally planned.
The Highways Agency has been carrying out a £2.3m scheme to refurbish the landmark, but have been overwrought with problems after contractors Bosch Rexroth discovered some mechanical parts of the bridge were in a worse condition than previously thought.
Additional parts were needed, but the manufacture and delivery of the replacements, plus many other factors have made the completion nearly 12 months late.
During the delays Waveney MP Bob Blizzard also drafted in the government's transport minister Tom Harris to investigate.
The bridge will be closed overnight from 8pm to 6am on November 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20, and then again on December 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Peter Smith, area performance manager for the Highways Agency said providing the latest phase of work went to plan no more closures will be needed.
He said they were working hard to limit the impact of the work needed to complete the maintenance works, alongside other key stakeholders who have an interest.
“These overnight closures are necessary for the Highways Agency's contractors to carry out testing and commissioning of equipment, during which the bridge must be closed to road traffic,” he said.
“We would like to apologise for the further disruption caused to the residents and businesses of Lowestoft and assure them that we are striving to reduce this as far as possible. If the testing is completed satisfactorily then no further closures are planned.”
While the overnight bridge closures are in place, the Highways Agency will undertake maintenance work at Battery Green Road. Coordination of these works will reduce disruption to traffic and remove the need for future road closures.
The temporary footbridge currently provided as an alternative crossing over Lake Lothing for pedestrians and cyclists will remain open to the public until the end of December.
Advanced signing and a signed diversion route will be in place during the overnight closures.
Visit www.highways.gov.uk for further details on the work or call the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30.
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