Porthill Footbridge expected to reopen a week early

The ongoing refurbishment of Porthill Footbridge in Shrewsbury is progressing well and, despite the wet spring, it is estimated that the bridge will reopen on Friday 13 July 2012, a week ahead of programme.

The work, which started in March 2012, involved carrying out extensive repairs to the bridge’s structural steelwork, grit blasting and repainting the whole bridge and replacing the bridge’s timber deck.  Also, to gain access to carry out the work, the bridge was totally encased in complex scaffolding.

The scheme has now progressed to the point where the majority of the work has been completed and the scaffolding removed.  The work that remains to do is to complete the laying of the new deck surface, to fit safety-related mesh panels to the sides of the bridge, to complete the painting, and to resurface the Porthill approach to the bridge.

Until the bridge is reopened, pedestrians and cyclists are being diverted over the Welsh Bridge.  In addition, Sabrina Boat are operating a ferry service between The Quarry and the Boathouse Inn.

Attention is drawn to the fact that, to access the ferry, people have to negotiate steps down to the river bank.

During the course of the work, the nearby businesses, such as the Boathouse Inn, remain open for business as usual.

The contractor carrying out the work is McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd, who are being supervised by Shropshire Council’s term contract consultant, Mouchel.

The work is estimated to cost approximately £550,000.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for bridge maintenance, said:

“This is essential work which needed to be carried out to enable the bridge to remain open in the long term.

‘‘Whilst it is appreciated that the bridge closure will have caused some disruption and inconvenience, I am pleased that it is progressing ahead of schedule and everyone involved will continue to do all that they reasonably can to reopen the bridge as soon as possible.”

Andrew Bannerman, Shropshire Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, said:

“This is excellent news.  I think everyone appreciated the need for the closure of the bridge, but it has been inconvenient for many.  We can look forward to the reopening of this increasingly popular route to the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Anne Chebsey, Shropshire Councillor for Porthill, added:

“This is wonderful news, especially now we have the additional problem of the river wall collapse.  All the residents and users of the bridge will be extremely pleased at how well the work is progressing.”