Newly structured Bell Bridge, Welton Credit: ITV Border
An historic bridge near Carlisle that was destroyed nearly two years ago following flooding, has been reopened today.
The 244-year-old Bell Bridge at Welton collapsed into the River Caldew after a number of storms and has been replaced at a cost of £1.1 million.
The new build now reconnects the communities of Sebergham and Welton.
The original structure was damaged during Storm Desmond and other storms, leading to its collapse during Storm Jonas in 2016.
The bridge has been made more resilient to future flooding, using as much of the original stone as possible to make sure the new structure blends in with the surrounding area.
The works also included temporary repairs to nearby Bell Lonning.
Story Contracting Limited designed and constructed the new bridge, while the Cumbria County Council managed the project:
The Head of Infrastructure Recovery & Major Programmes at Cumbria County Council commented:
