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Major repairs to a Grade II-listed stone bridge in Yorkshire are progressing on schedule after it was hit by a car.
The incident, which occurred in September 2022, caused “significant damage” to the Bubwith Bridge’s headwall and parapet. The bridge carries the A163 over the River Derwent.
North of England contractor Esh Construction is delivering the repair and strengthening works on behalf of East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The 15-week scheme got underway in July and has now reached the half way point.
The first phase of works saw the installation of an encapsulated scaffold which allowed grit blasting, steel girder reinforcement and masonry repairs to the parapets to be carried out safely.
At the half way point, masonry repairs, which include the use of steel staples to pin the stonework together for additional strength, are now complete. The steel girders have been refurbished.
The next critical phase will see specialist vacuum excavation works undertaken to remove the fill from the eastern and western bridge arches, this will allow steel anchors and concrete infill to be installed to further strengthen the structure.
Additional work to be delivered in the coming weeks includes the installation of a vehicle restraint system to prevent any future damage of a similar nature, as well as kerbing, ducting, surfacing and road marking.
The bridge was originally built in 1798 and and all repairs undertaken are sympathetic to the existing structure and its surroundings.
The project is due to complete at the end of October 2023.
Esh Construction civil engineering division director Steven Garrigan said the company is “pleased with progress to date” and the project remains “on schedule”.
He added: “We understand the strain the closure of the bridge is having on the local area and as such made a commitment to procure local suppliers and sub-contractors where possible to do so given the specialist nature of some of the trades required. I am delighted to report that more than half of the contract value has been re-invested within 20 miles (32km) of the site.
“While we have overcame any obstacles so far to allow us to remain on programme, we would like to remind everyone that the risk of uncovering further structural issues still remains high, but we are working collaboratively with East Riding of Yorkshire Council to ensure they are fully informed every step of the way.”
East Riding of Yorkshire Council director of infrastructure and facilities Adam Holmes added: “We are pleased with the progress of the repair and strengthening works on this bridge project.
“We’d like to thank Esh Construction for being so accommodating with its work schedules to help speed up this work so we could plan for the bridge to be reopened sooner, and for its support of local businesses during this scheme.”
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