Unsafe bridge to be demolished and replaced

There were fears Buckbarrow Bridge in Cumbria would collapse under the weight of vehicles

A bridge that was shut due to "significant structural concerns" will be demolished and replaced.

Buckbarrow Bridge in South Cumbria will be taken down at "some point over the next few months", Cumberland Council said.

The route, which connects Duddon Bridge and Corney Village, has been shut since August 2023 amid concerns it could collapse under vehicle weight.

The authority said it expects a new bridge to be installed in June 2025 and measures had been taken to protect nesting birds in the area.

Following an assessment, Cumberland Council concluded that repairing the existing bridge was not feasible.

Meanwhile, suitable nesting arrangements for birds have been factored into the design of the proposed new structure, the local authority said.

The demolition is "unavoidable" because of the structural issues, the council said

The timeline for the replacement bridge project is:

• Mid-May: Tender issued for the design and build project

• End of July: Awarding of the contract for the design and replacement bridge project

• Sept – Nov: Detailed design

• June 2025: Installation of the new bridge

Existing road closures will remain in place, with a diversion route along the A595 from Waberthwaite to Duddon Bridge.

Councillor Denise Rollo said the council's executive had supported reallocating funding from the current budget to allow the scheme to be completed.

She added: "We fully understand frustrations regarding the access over Corney Fell Road, but sadly Buckbarrow Bridge has been deemed unsafe and therefore we will need to replace it."