Repair work to begin on Starks Bridge in Whixall on 24 April 2017

Work will begin to repair Starks Bridge on Maltkiln Lane on Monday 24 April 2017. The bridge carries the pedestrianised part of Maltkiln Lane over the Shropshire Union Canal in Whixall.

The bridge has been closed for some time due to a structural defect.

A week of canal restrictions has been agreed with the Canal and River Trust between 9pm and 5am beginning on Monday 24 April 2017, to enable the dismantling and removal of the bridge superstructure. Work will then continue at the site during the daytime to prepare the foundations for the installation of the new repaired bridge.

The bridge superstructure will be rebuilt at an offsite workshop, before being returned to site and erected during a week of canal stoppages, between 9pm to 5am beginning on Monday 26 June 2017.

The canal towpath will remain open for the entire duration of the work.

Canal boat traffic may experience up to 30 minutes delay between 9pm and 5am from Monday 24 April to Sunday 30 April 2017. Canal boat traffic will be stopped between 9pm and 5am from Monday 26 June to Sunday 2 July 2017.

It is expected that the repair to the bridge will be completed by Sunday 2 July 2017, and Maltkiln Lane will then be reopened for pedestrian, equestrian and cycle traffic.

The contractor carrying out the work will be Conservation Building Services. The work will be supervised by the council’s term consultant, Mouchel.