Temporary bridge being installed in County Durham

Engineers are installing a temporary Bailey bridge to re-open a vital rural County Durham river crossing.

Deerness Bridge had to be closed on April 13 after an inspection raised concerns that it could no longer withstand the weight of traffic.

Work on a solution began immediately and a large crane was used to lift a two-part, pre-fabricated lattice steel structure into place above the existing road on May 26.

Brian Buckley, Durham County Council’s strategic highways manager, said:

With the structure in place, the council’s highways staff are building up the approaches to the new bridge, installing signs and traffic lights, and looking to reopen the crossing on June 3.

When that happens, the bridge will have an 18 tonne weight limit and there will be a signed diversion route for heavier vehicles and abnormal loads.

There will be a separate footpath across the bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and horses.

The cost of installing the Bailey Bridge was £6,875 which included crane hire and labour. It is then costing £690 per week to hire the bridge.