Bridge shut for six months for works, says council

A bridge will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians for at least six months while essential works take place, a local authority has said.

North Northamptonshire Council is carrying out the works on White Mills Bridge, located between Grendon Road and Station Road in Earls Barton, in partnership with construction company Kier.

From 12 January the full bridge deck will be replaced to "ensure the long-term safety and future proof this key route", the authority said.

Until work is completed in summer 2026 the road will be fully closed for safety reasons.

The project is partly funded by a £7.72m grant from the Department for Transport, which was intended for projects in the 2025-26 financial year.

After improvement works are completed the stronger bridge will be able to support HGVs.

Allan Rigby, the general manager at Kier, said: "Replacing the White Mills Bridge deck is a complex engineering project with limited working space that will deliver a safer, more resilient structure for the local community."

Chris McGiffen, the council's executive member for highways and travel, added the authority was "ensuring we have a highways infrastructure that is suitable for decades to come".

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.