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Repairs to crash-damaged bridge set to take weeks

Vikki IrwinSuffolk political reporter
News imageVikki Irwin/BBC A bridge with a brick structure on Boot Street in Great Bealings, Suffolk. The bridge has been cordoned off with red and white tape across one of the walls, which has been knocked down. There is a gaping hole in the wall of the bridge.Vikki Irwin/BBC
The bridge on Boot Street has been closed for more than a week after a collision damaged the bridge, which is listed.

A 19th Century bridge, listed as a Scheduled Monument, will remain closed for several weeks to allow for temporary repairs, a council has confirmed.

The bridge at Boot Street in Great Bealings, Suffolk, will be closed until at least 18 March so concrete blocks can be put in place, to make it safe.

Suffolk Police was called to the bridge over the River Lark just before 20:30 GMT on 9 February to reports of a two-vehicle collision.

A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: "Permanent repairs will take place once plans have been agreed with Historic England, due to the Scheduled Monument status of the bridge, and the Environment Agency."

At the time of the collision, the county fire service had to recover a vehicle left partially hanging over the edge.

There were no reported injuries, but the structure was left severely damaged with brickwork broken through.

News imageVikki Irwin/BBC A bridge with a brick structure on Boot Street in Great Bealings, Suffolk. There is a bright orange plastic barrier closing the road over the bridge. You can see traffic the other side of the bridge. There is red and white tape across one of the walls, which has been knocked down. There is a gaping hole in the wall of the bridge.Vikki Irwin/BBC
Concrete barriers will be put in place to reopen the bridge over the next four weeks

The bridge, a few miles from Woodbridge, was inspected for damage last week.

The council, which is responsible for highways, said engineers would be putting "temporary concrete barriers protecting the damaged areas" in place, which was set to take 20 working days, "to on or before 18 March".

A diversion route for drivers is in place via Culpho and Grundisburgh.

News imageVikki Irwin/BBC It is a brick wall of a bridge on Boot Street, in Great Bealings, Suffolk. The wall has a scuff on it with some of the brick removed. There is also a visible crack along the bottom of the wall, where the bridge has been hit and the wall slightly displaced. Vikki Irwin/BBC
The bridge is a Scheduled Monument and a permanent repair will involve Historic England and the Environment Agency

According to Historic England, the bridge is single arched and dates from the early 19th Century, and is listed as a Scheduled Monument.

The Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport designates listed structures if they meet the right historical criteria.

Historic England said it had worked with Suffolk County Council in the past on "various" projects relating to the bridge and supported repair and strengthening schemes.

A spokesperson for First Bus said the works had affected its 59 service as well as its 972 school service.

"As a result, we are temporarily unable to serve two bus stops in Great Bealings," they added.

"We are continuing to work closely with local stakeholders, but unfortunately we do not currently have a timeframe for when the repair works will be completed."

The spokesperson said local schools had been notified of revised pick-up arrangements ahead of the half-term break.

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