Winterburn Bridge near Neenton closure extended to 31 July 2020

Winterburn Bridge has been closed from Monday 9 March 2020 to enable a new bridge to be constructed. It is necessary to extend the closure by one week to 31 July 2020. This is due to the contractor having incurred some supply problems with concrete and materials, and also inefficient working practices due to COVID-19 social distancing rules.

Winterburn Bridge collapsed in 2007, the remains of the bridge were removed and a temporary piped culvert installed to enable the road to be reopened to traffic.

The bridge carries an unclassified road over the Winterburn Brook, from Overton junction to The Baytree junction near Neenton.

In order to ensure the bridge’s future, the bridge is being rebuilt with a permanent structure. Work to rebuild the bridge is lasting so long because of depth of excavation required to rebuild the bridge.

Due to the nature of the repair works, a full road closure and diversion route is in place for the duration of the works. Whilst the bridge is closed traffic is diverted via Oldfield, Neenton and Wrickton. A formal diversion route is signed at Baytree, Cleobury North, Oldfield and Overton. The diversion route is monitored for the duration of the works by the contractor and Shropshire Council.

Access through the works is available for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists, with a temporary footbridge provided for this purpose.

The construction work is being undertaken by Freyssinet UK, and supervised by the council’s term consultant WSP.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:-

“It is appreciated that the bridge closure causes some inconvenience, and everyone involved will do all that they reasonably can to reopen it as soon as possible.”