Delays likely as work starts on swing bridge

Work on repainting a bridge on the busy A17 is due to start on Monday and last for four months.

The swing bridge at Sutton Bridge is the main route between Lincolnshire and Norfolk and drivers are being warned of potential delays as a result of the project.

The bridge hasn’t been painted for almost 20 years and the combination of salt water and high volumes of traffic have seen it deteriorate.

Contractors will be on site from Monday, February 28 to July 1 – dependant on weather conditions.
Temporary traffic lights will be used for most of the work carried out at road level.

The bridge will remain operational for shipping as the River Nene is a major transportation route.

There will also be some overnight closures during the work. But the road will be fully open for Bank Holidays to minimise disruption to those using the route.

“These works are essential for the continued life and usefulness of the bridge,” said Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highway.

“We are working extremely hard to minimise the amount of disruption that road users will face over the coming months and have liaised with other authorities to ensure that the work we carry out will not be impacted further by works in their areas,” he added.

The overnight closures will allow work to be carried out on difficult to reach areas, such as the ends of the bridge itself.

The River Nene is only crossed at Sutton Bridge and Wisbech so the advisory diversion will take drivers to the Cambridgeshire town and back to Long Sutton to reconnect with the A17.

The current bridge opened in 1897 and cost £80,000 to construct. Tolls were charged until 1903.