Ruckhall Bridge to reopen on 1 September 2014

[megilleland]

From Council News today 20 August 2014:

Ruckhall Bridge to reopen – on behalf of Balfour Beatty Living Places

 

After seven months work by Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) and their contractors, Ruckhall Bridge will re-open to traffic on 1 September 2014.

 

Despite severe access difficulties and adverse weather during the early part of the work, the failed wing wall has been completely rebuilt to current standards and clad in stone to preserve the appearance of this listed structure

 

A further 20m long section of retaining wall supporting the road on the northern approach to the bridge has been robustly reinforced and clad in stone. This was achieved using a system of ties and plates that avoided the need to reconstruct the existing wall

 

Kerbing and highway drainage have been added to protect the structure going forward. The road has also been re-fenced and resurfaced in the vicinity of the bridge.

 

BBLP has worked closely with the local community to deliver a high quality piece of work in keeping with the grade 2 listed bridge structure.

 

Residents of Ruckhall village welcomed the news. Ray Christopher, chairman of the parish council, said “We are very pleased to see the work completed and the bridge re-opened. The patience shown and the time and effort from local residents during the whole process is much appreciated. We are grateful to Balfour Beatty and their contractors for all of their work in what has been a complex project.â€

 

While Ruckhall Lane has been closed BBLP has taken the opportunity to carry out minor highway improvements to the south of the bridge

 

I am sure that this will be welcomed by many people. However not repaired as quick as this road following earthquake in Japan!

 

 

[twowheelsgood]

Propaganda and spin as ever from HC. It may be 7 months work, but the bridge has been closed for several years (but not closed enough to stop the odd cyclist ...) - a terrible dereliction of duty by the council and a massive inconvenience. A FOI request about the true cost of these works might make interesting reading, given that it goes right back to Amey's involvement, who, I understand, forestalled works with the inevitable endless and expensive ecological surveys. As the whole thing was eventually subcontracted to Owen Pell, a more than capable local civil works contractor, it begs the question, yet again, why do we need BB just to add their 25% or more mark up onto someone else's work, and for what?