Bridge closure 'beyond a joke', commuter says

Laurence Gooch is among commuters calling for the bridge to reopen

Delays in reopening a 100-year-old bridge to motorists after two and a half years are now "beyond a joke", a commuter has said.

Corporation Bridge, in Grimsby, closed for repairs in February 2023. Since then, at least £7.3m has been spent on the work, £2m over the original budget, with no completion date in sight.

Laurence Gooch, a 28-year-old Tesco worker from Weelsby, is among residents questioning why it has taken so long. He said the closure added 15 minutes to his daily commute and called on North East Lincolnshire Council to "get it sorted".

The council said it understood the strength of feeling and had recently appointed an experienced bridge contractor to complete the restoration.

The rolling lift bridge, which spans the River Freshney, is a main route into Grimsby town centre, connecting Corporation Road and Victoria Street South.

Having opened in 1925, it required repairs to corroded steel parts and the lifting mechanism.

But restoration work stopped in May this year when North East Lincolnshire Council dismissed the contractor due to what it described as "unacceptable delays".

Alec Price, 57, lives near the bridge and said it was about time it reopened.

"It's been a very long time," he added. "It's making the traffic heavier than it's supposed to be because it's one of the main routes into town."

Manny Sidhu, 49, says footfall has fallen but his bills have not

Peter Walsham, 78, said the closure was "a big hindrance to a lot of people".

Manny Sidhu, 49, runs the Premier Express convenience store on Corporation Road, about a half-mile from the bridge.

He complained of passing trade drying up since the bridge closed.

"This year has been one of the hardest years for me," said Mr Sidhu, whose family has owned the corner shop for 45 years. "Some days I come in and think maybe I need a career change.

"Other shops in the area are in the same boat, but it's like no one cares.

"With the money the council has been spending on that bridge, they could have built a brand new one."

The bridge is a "key part" of the town's history, according to the council

In May, the council removed contractor Spencer Group from the project and said it wanted to appoint another firm "to ensure the bridge is open in the quickest and most efficient way possible".

At the time, Spencer said it was "baffled" by the move because the bridge had required "significant additional work" which was "unforeseen" when the project began.

The council has now appointed a new contractor, Taziker, which has previously worked on landmarks including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, in Bristol, and the Iron Bridge of 1779, in Shropshire.

North East Lincolnshire Council said: "We understand the strength of feeling that people have about this project.

"We are committed to restoring the 100-year-old Corporation Road Bridge – a key part of our town's history."

The authority said Taziker was experienced in bridge restoration and the project had also benefitted from a Historic England grant.

"We are now in the final stages of negotiations with Taziker over the cost and programme of works, and expect this to be in place by the end of October," the council added.

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