Facelift For Bailey Bridge To Start This Month

Tuesday, 8 June 2021 15:51

Connecting Southwold with Walberswick, the Bailey Bridge over the river Blyth, is set to be closed from the end of June and remain shut until late September for refurbishment.

Connecting Southwold with Walberswick, the Bailey Bridge over the river Blyth, is set to be closed from the end of June and remain shut until late September for refurbishment.

Following an independent inspection of the structure at the end of April, Suffolk County Council has said that it is required to close the bridge due to very poor condition and significant defects that were reported in the spring.

Repair works and refurbishment need to be undertaken at the earliest opportunity, with the bridge is expected to be closed until the end of September 2021.

Since Suffolk County Council and its local members committed funds to undertake this major refurbishment, they are said to have made concerted efforts to engage with local people and identify ways of easing the impact this closure will have locally. The closure of this bridge at a time where lockdown is easing will present a challenge to local residents, businesses and visitors to the town. However the safety of those using the bridge has to be a priority.

Some local businesses have said that the timomg of the repairs will mean they could lose trade - and this after a challenging time becuase of the pandemic.

Thec Council have said that some of the mitigation measures explored, include; longer working hours and a longer working week so the work can be completed as quickly as possible and more frequent and extra ferry services as well as temporary traffic measures within the village for the duration of the work. These measures will be confirmed and communicated in the coming weeks ahead of the closure.