Temporary bridge welcomed PRIMMEI P INFRASTRth
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by flood-hit Cumbrian firms
Jgerbrownfarbi.co.uk A TEMPORARY BRIDGE that will allow trucks to cross the River Derwent in Workington for the first time since severe floods last November has been welcomed by haulage bosses in Cumbria.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the new £4.6m structure — 200m east of the Northside Bridge, which was destroyed in the storms — will open to traffic this May.
Calva Bridge, which is nearby, was also badly damaged in the floods and has remained closed.
Andrew Burridge, director at Tyson H Burridge, based between Workington and Whitehaven, says that detours have turned a regular five-mile journey to a nearby paper mill into a 70-mile trip, "The new bridge is desperately needed, and will be a big boost." he says, "Although we really need it sooner than May."
Eric Nicholson. director of EW and PA Nicholson in Cockermouth, adds: "The damage caused by the floods has created a lot of problems in terms of time delays and mileage."
Cumbria County Council is currently working on plans for two permanent replacement road bridges in Workington within the next two years.
Malcolm Bingham. northern England head of policy for the Freight Transport Association,says the organisation is hoping for "speedy progress" on this issue.