Bridge shut since 2023 to stay closed until fixed

Corporation Road Bridge in Grimsby shut to the public in February 2023

A 100-year-old bridge will stay fully closed until repairs are finished, councillors have agreed.

The cabinet at North East Lincolnshire Council met earlier and decided work will resume next week to repair Corporation Bridge in Grimsby, which shut in February 2023.

Contractor Taziker had suggested either keeping the bridge closed until work is finished or partially reopening it.

In a joint statement, council leader Philip Jackson and portfolio holder for highways councillor Stewart Swinburn said: "What is vital now is that we move on, we get this right and we return what is a highly important historical asset back to its former glory."

The authority's Transport, Infrastructure and Strategic Housing Scrutiny Panel met on Wednesday to discuss the two options put forward by the newly-appointed contractor Taziker.

The panel recommended keeping the bridge closed until the work was finished. Council documents stated opening the bridge early with one lane would delay its completion by four to seven months and would cost more money.

The bridge, which has been closed for two and a half years, was due to reopen before Christmas 2023, but it was found to need more repairs and its opening date was pushed back to summer 2025.

However, it faced another setback after the council fired its main contractor Spencer Group in May over "unacceptable delays" and cost increases.

'Not good enough'

Jackson said: "My colleagues and I are frustrated with the delays and the lack of progress.

"It's not good enough. We have been very patient, but the level of delay and the cost of the works is no longer acceptable.

"We are determined to make sure this Grade II listed bridge is completed back to its full working order."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, repair work could restart as soon as 3 November, with the bridge likely to reopen in December 2026.

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