Work to improve Barrow’s Jubilee Bridge will continue next month, council chiefs said.
It is Cumbria’s longest road bridge – built in 1908 – and its refurbishment has been ongoing for several years.
To date, more than 1,000 repairs to the steelwork have been completed, and the majority of the steel structure has been repainted. A plaque commemorating the renaming of the span from Walney Bridge to Jubilee Bridge in 1935, was also restored.
To maintain access for ships, the steelwork repairs and painting were divided into several phases. The most recent phase of the project was completed in May and the final phase will begin in January, with a completion date of April, Cumbria County Council said.
In January, the southern footway will be closed but the northern footway will remain open and traffic flow will not be restricted.
The southern footway will reopen in mid-February, while the northern footway will close.
During the construction period, the 350 metre-long bridge will remain open to traffic.
The work will be carried out by Story Contracting Ltd, from Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm, and on alternate weekends.
Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I would like to thank the residents in advance for their patience and support during these upcoming works. I would also like to reassure the community that the bridge will remain open to traffic and pedestrians, but pedestrians will need to follow the directional signs.
“These repairs are necessary because the old waterproofing on the bridge deck was failing, and water was seeping through and corroding the steel superstructure.
“As the only mainland crossing from Barrow to Walney Island, the bridge is extremely important to the locals in Barrow, as it sees a daily usage of up to 24,000 vehicles. We are aiming to finalise these improvements before the bridge lifts recommence in May.”
