Cumbria County Council is introducing a one-way system for pedestrians on Jubilee Bridge in Barrow, to help maintain social distancing and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Under the new system, pedestrians walking across Jubilee Bridge from Barrow to Walney Island will be asked to only use the footway on the north side of the bridge, while those heading in the opposite direction should follow the footway on the south side.
The changes only apply to pedestrians and dismounted cyclists. Two-way traffic for vehicles and cyclists travelling on the road bridge will continue as normal.
New signage and footway markings are being installed to advise pedestrians of the changes and the new system will start from early next week
Work on the county council’s £4.5m essential maintenance programme on Jubilee Bridge resumed on 29 April, following a review of the authority’s construction schemes in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The council’s main contractor, Story Contracting, has introduced a number of measures to protect the workforce as well as the public and other key workers, including reducing the number of employees and sub-contractors on a site, 1 person to 1 vehicle and segregating specific work areas.
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “The new one-way system for pedestrians on Jubilee Bridge will help maintain social distancing so people can follow the government guidelines and stay at least two metres apart. I would encourage everyone walking on the bridge to stay alert and follow this system to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.”
As part of maintenance works programme, the footway on the south side of the bridge was closed to pedestrians while the works were carried out. However, this footway has now reopened to facilitate the one-way system for pedestrians.
It is estimated that approximately 1,000 people walked across Jubilee Bridge each day before the Covid-19 pandemic.
