Sweyney Bridge strengthening work delayed

Work to strengthen Sweyney Bridge, which carries the Broseley to Coalport road over a disused railway track near Station House, has been delayed and will not now start on Monday 14 January 2013 as originally planned. 

The reason for delaying the work is that the contractor who had been appointed to carry it out has had to withdraw at short notice after discovering a significant error in his tendered prices. 

At present, Shropshire Council is liaising with the other contractors who submitted tenders for the work to confirm that their tenders remain valid and free from similar errors. Unfortunately, until the outcome of this is known, it is not possible to confirm a new start date.  However, the scheme remains programmed to be carried out during 2013. 

The proposed scheme includes installing ground anchors to stabilise the bridge’s wing and spandrel walls, carrying out extensive structural repairs to the bridge’s arch barrel, and improving the vertical alignment of the road over the bridge. 

Although most of the proposed work will be carried out with the road open under traffic light control, it will unfortunately be necessary to close it overnight for up to a fortnight to carry out some of the work safely. 

When the bridge is closed, traffic will be diverted via Broseley, The Free Bridge, The Lloyds and Coalport High Street. 

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

‘‘It is regrettable that it has been necessary to postpone the start of the proposed work, and I hope that people can appreciate that it has been done for reasons that were outside the control of Shropshire Council.  In reprogramming the work, we will continue to liaise with local businesses and residents in an attempt to minimise any disruption caused to them.”