Bridge to close for four nights for urgent work

The swing bridge carries traffic on the A17 across the River Nene

A bridge that carries traffic on a busy road linking Norfolk and Lincolnshire is to be closed for four nights between now and November for essential maintenance.

Lincolnshire County Council said the Cross Keys Bridge at Sutton Bridge, which carries the A17 over the River Nene, is faulty and needs urgent attention.

The hydraulic lifting jacks that operate the swing bridge will be replaced with refurbished and resealed models.

Karen Cassar, the council's assistant director for highways, said the bridge would be closed for the work on four separate nights to minimise disruption, starting on Thursday.

Cassar said: "The hydraulic lifting jacks are fundamental to the operation of the swing bridge and have been identified as faulty and need urgent attention.

"Each night of work will be for one set of jack works at a time."

The first two dates for the work have been confirmed as Thursday 5 June and Thursday 28 August.

The third will be either Monday 29 September or Monday 13 October and the fourth will be either Monday 10 November or Monday 24 November, the council said.

The work will take place between 19:00 and 06:00 when the road will be closed and a diversion will be in place.

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