WILL A18 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT SEE TRAFFIC DIVERTED THROUGH BRIGG ?

 

Could some traffic be diverted through Brigg while North Lincolnshire Council installs a replacement bridge on the A18?
The construction of the bridge is likely to take between a year and 18 months in Melton Ross, where the main road passes over the Barnetby to Cleethorpes railway line.
The local authority tells us it has drawn up plans for the design and construction of the new railway bridge, which is expected to be installed "as early as 2018 at a cost of £7.6m."
Various design options have been considered for the replacement of the existing Melton Ross Railway Bridge and the realignment of the A18 and the B1211. 
The chosen design will cause minimum disruption and improve the junction, the council stresses.
Now the designs have been drawn up, the next step will be to consult with residents to get their views on the plans and to work with local landowners. 
A final decision will then be made on the design of the new bridge after comments have been considered.
It is expected that the new bridge will be installed in 2018 after the consultation has finished, the plans have been confirmed and the tender process has been followed. 
A routine inspection was carried out in 2014 on the railway bridge and it was found to have some structural problems that meant the bridge wasn’t strong enough to hold the traffic it had been able to before.
Temporary traffic restrictions were put in place following this.
In early 2016 work was carried out to prop up the railway bridge to make it safe to be fully opened to traffic and restrictions were removed.
This work is only a temporary solution until a replacement bridge is built and installed.
Some heavy traffic was diverted via Wrawby, Brigg, the A1084 and Bigby during previous work on the bridge.

 

Coun Neil Poole (pictured), of Messingham, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “Installing a new bridge will mean that it will be structurally sound for many years to come. The design that has been chosen as the best option will cause the least amount of disruption to road users and residents nearby during construction.
“However, before any final decisions are made, we will consult with residents and give them the opportunity to have their say on the plans. Their comments with then be taken on board when a final decision is made.
“We also need to have talks with local landowners about the plans.
“The temporary propping of the bridge is working effectively but this is not a long term solution. We understand that the problems with the bridge and traffic restrictions have caused disruption for residents so we are keen to get the replacement bridge installed as soon as possible.
“We already have some money in the funding pot but extra funding still needs to be secured for us to deliver this scheme, which we are currently looking into.”

N.F. ADDS: As the highway authority, there's nothing North Lincolnshire Council can do other than provide a very expensive new bridge. However, we wonder which came first at this spot in Melton Ross. The road (now called the A18) or the railway? The  rail line certainly dates from the late 1840s. In terms of the "consultation exercise" we wonder whether Brigg Town Council will be included. Melton Ross is not an "adjoining parish" but clearly, if some traffic is eventually diverted along the A18 and the A1084 during bridge construction, our community would have an interest.