A pledge has been made that a Kirkby Lonsdale bridge – closed since 2021 because it was unsafe – will reopen.
Rigmaden Bridge was closed to traffic and pedestrians in December 2021 after an inspection found structural issues.
This week, Westmorland and Furness Council said it had been granted permission by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to undertake strengthening work.
The council said it had worked with the national park authority to agree a solution that will retain the external appearance of the bridge while improving its structural capacity.
The team will now develop a viable construction programme and identify costs associated with delivering the scheme.
The bridge will remain closed until further notice to ensure public safety.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Council cabinet member for highways and assets said: “Obtaining Listed Building Consent is a positive step toward restoring Rigmaden Bridge, a key part of our highways network that connects communities surrounding Kirkby Lonsdale.”
