Proposed strengthening of Beech House Canal Bridge in Ellesmere

Essential work to strengthen Beech House Canal Bridge, which carries the Ellesmere to Tetchill road over the Shropshire Union Canal alongside Ellesmere Marina, is to start on Monday 1 July 2013. 

The proposed work, which is necessary because the bridge has been assessed as being weak, will involve casting a new reinforced concrete saddle over the top of the bridge’s existing arch barrel. 

Unfortunately, to carry out the proposed work safely, it will be necessary to close the bridge to traffic for the duration of the work.  It is therefore proposed to close the bridge to traffic for a period of up to nine weeks starting on 1 July 2013.   

In an attempt to minimise disruption to the local community, the proposed bridge closure period has been chosen to coincide with the nearby Ellesmere College’s summer holiday period. 

When the bridge is closed, it is proposed to divert traffic to and from Ellesmere via Lee, Spunhill and the A528 road. 

Because of the narrow nature of the Lee to Spunhill road, the proposed scheme will, where possible, include constructing vehicular passing places along this length of road.  This work is scheduled to be carried out during the week commencing Monday 24 June 2013. 

Access over the bridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will remain available throughout the proposed work. 

Although the majority of the proposed work will be carried out during summer 2013, it will be necessary to return later in the year to carry out repairs to the underside of the bridge. This work, which is expected to take up to a fortnight to complete, cannot be carried out any earlier as it will require a temporary closure of the canal.  At present the Canal & Rivers Trust have indicated a provisional start date of 4 November 2013 for the canal closure but are yet to confirm this. 

When the autumn/winter work is underway, the bridge will remain open to traffic. 

John Williams, Shropshire Council’s bridges and structures manager, said: 

‘‘This is essential work which needs to be carried out to ensure that the bridge remains functional in the long term.”