Main Ironbridge road to close as huge crane brought in for bridge renovation project
The Wharfage in Ironbridge will be closing to traffic on Monday to allow for further scaffolding to be put around the landmark Iron Bridge.
A huge crane is being brought in to help with ongoing renovation work. It will lift two 950kg scaffolding beams into place, spanning the River Severn beside the bridge, as part of English Heritage’s major conservation project.
A temporary road closure will be in place from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
Councillor Nicola Lowery, ward member for the Ironbridge Gorge on Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "English Heritage and the appointed contractor Taziker Industrial have reassured that they are making every effort to limit disruption locally.
"I know the English Heritage are very grateful to the local community for being so cooperative whilst these works are being carried out and I look forward to seeing this exciting project develop over the coming weeks”.
The scaffolding is being put up as part of a £1.2 million restoration project on the bridge, the largest ever undertaken by English Heritage.
The Iron Bridge was the first single-span arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron and was a turning point in engineering.
However it is suffering due to stresses in the ironwork dating from the original construction, ground movement over the centuries and an earthquake at the end of the 19th century.
The bridge has been in the care of English Heritage since 1975 and the charity has undertaken regular conservation and monitoring during that time.
Now iron radials and braces holding the bridge together are to be repaired and work will be completed on deck plates and wedges, the main iron arch,and the stone abutments on either side of the River Severn.
The bridge will also be re-painted, with the project costing a total of £1.2 million.
Scaffolding has been springing up around the bridge for the past few weeks as the work starts.
