Work Starts To Repair Collapsed Bridge

24 June 2013, 07:12 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Work to repair a bridge in Ovington, County Durham, which collapsed after heavy rain in December, will start today.

Durham County Council will begin repairing the damage, with the work expected to take 12 weeks to complete.

The bridge is currently closed to vehicles and during the work it will also be closed to pedestrians.

The site will be completely fenced off and parents are also asked to remind children of the dangers of playing near to construction sites.

The work will involve the construction of a reinforced concrete wall with a stone facing to match the original bridge wall.

Where possible the original stone in the area around the bridge will be re-used in the construction.

Repairs to the road, the removal of debris from the embankment and the replacement of the soil which slipped with free-draining stone covered with seeded top soil will also be carried out as part of the works.

Brian Buckley, strategic highways manager at Durham County Council, said:
"Extensive repair works will be carried out and we are doing all that we can to minimise disruption to the local community.

We expect the work to take 12 weeks but every effort will be made to complete it sooner if possible.

We do not anticipate the post office and village hall being affected by the work and construction traffic should approach the site from the east, avoiding the village."

Prior to the work starting the county council has been completing site investigations to identify the nature and extent of the damage as well as seeking the necessary permissions to go ahead with the work on the bridge, which is a Grade II listed structure.