Milestone reached in Staveley bridge project

A milestone has been reached in the construction of a new bridge, in a Cumbrian village that has been split since the floods of Storm Desmond.

People and businesses in Staveley have been pushing for Cumbria County Council to build the bridge, and had proposed building their own, after it was reported the construction could take two years.

However, the council then announced the bridge would be opened by Easter 2017.

Today, work got underway to install concrete bridge beams at the site, and this is expected to be finished tomorrow morning.

Work will then start on the carriageway and bridge parapets, and the project is expected to be finished on 16 May 2017.

The council is investing approximately £500,000 in the Staveley bridge replacement project.

This forms part of the county council’s overall £120m infrastructure recovery programme to repair damage caused during last winter’s floods.

A total of £25 million is being invested in 2016/17 to repair over 350 roads and bridges, including Gowan Old Bridge in Staveley.