A South Cumbrian bridge will remain closed for at least two years as moves are made to find the £2 million needed to repair it.
Rigmaden Bridge, which carries the C5080 road over the River Lune near Kirkby Lonsdale, was inspected in December.
The inspection found significant defects in its structure, which made it unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles.
Cumbria County Council immediately closed the bridge and added: “A number of elements of the crossing were showing signs of structural distress due to fatigue and corrosion, while its unusual form and design added further risk.”
A consultant has now assessed the bridge and said taking into consideration heritage conservation and cost, it was concluded that a twin-girder structure needed to be added between the existing lattice girders.
The overall cost of the proposed scheme is estimated to be around £2 million.
To pay for it, the county council said it will consider exploring alternative funding options possibly from external organisations or by central Government grants.
It added: “Due to the scale and nature of the design, investigation, and planning work required prior to any construction, the county council expects it will take a minimum of two years to complete the project once funding is found.”
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Our priority is always the safety of the public, contractors and our staff as we work to maintain and ensure the standards of our roads and bridges.
“Unfortunately, due to the significant structural defects of the bridge, the bridge will remain closed until we can obtain funding to implement the improvements, and we will now consider ways to improve traffic management during this extended closure.
“Our sincere thanks go out to the local community for their patience and understanding during this prolonged closure.”
