Ludford Bridge, Ludlow update
The repair of Ludford Bridge in Ludlow is programmed to start in earnest on Monday 21 February, when work to erect a complex scaffold platform will begin to enable contractors to safely access the damaged part of the bridge.
Unfortunately, an earlier start is not possible because of the time required to progress the design and prepare the health and safety plans required by law.
To date, work carried out at the bridge has involved the excavation of trial holes to locate the numerous gas, electricity and telecommunication services that cross over it, and the sinking of boreholes from the road surface to confirm the nature of the material present above the bridge’s central arch. Until this information was available, it was not possible to fully confirm the repair solution.
The repair scheme will involve taking down areas of unstable stone masonry from alongside the existing area of collapse and then rebuilding the damaged part. The repair will be tied into the main body of the bridge using discrete, 3m long stainless steel bars which will be drilled in from the side of the bridge.
The completed repair will be similar in appearance to the rest of the bridge and is buildable without the need to divert any of the services which cross the bridge.
As the duration of the repair work will depend upon the weather, it is difficult to confirm how long the work will take to complete. However, it is estimated that it will take about nine weeks, and all involved in the repair are targeting to have the bridge re-opened to traffic by the Easter weekend.
For safety reasons, the bridge will need to continue to remain closed to traffic until it has been repaired. In the meantime, it will remain open to pedestrians and dismounted cyclists; although on occasions, construction work may result in some safety-related delays.
Until the bridge is reopened to traffic, traffic is being diverted via the A49 road, Henley Road, Gravel Hill, Station Drive, Corve Street and the Bullring.
Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport
and IT, said:
“It is appreciated that the closure of the bridge is causing inconvenience and every reasonable effort will be made to complete the work and reopen it as soon as possible.”
The repair work is estimated to cost about £90,000.
Although the rest of the bridge is believed to be in a sound condition, next week (week starting Monday 31 January), Shropshire Council’s term contract consultant, Mouchel, will be carrying out a thorough inspection of it from a pontoon on the river.
