Delivery of Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing bridge delayed

The main span of the bridge is due to be transported from the Netherlands

The delivery of the last section of a new bridge has been delayed.

The main bascule span for Lowestoft's Gull Wing bridge was due to arrive later this month, but has now been delayed until the end of February or early March.

The £145m bridge over the Suffolk town's waterfront should be completed later this year.

Suffolk County Council said the delay was to complete the testing and pre-commissioning of mechanical systems.

That would also include the hydraulic and electrical elements of the structure, which will provide a third road crossing of the waterway.

Following its approval in 2015, construction of the bridge began in March 2021, with the aim of reducing congestion in and around the town.

The council says challenges are expected in "significant and complex infrastructure projects"

Simon Bretherton, project director at the council, said: "The installation of the main bascule span is the last significant milestone in the delivery of the bridge, and it is imperative that we take the time to complete the pre-commissioning and testing work to ensure that everything will be fully operational when the lake reopens to marine traffic.

"Challenges are to be expected with significant and complex infrastructure projects of this kind, especially for the commissioning of the hydraulic, electrical and mechanical systems that form part of the unique opening bascule section.

"We continue to work with our contractor, Farrans, to deliver Lowestoft's historic third crossing, which will serve the town for many decades to come."

An update on the Gull Wing bridge's Facebook page said "good progress" had been made since the start of the year, including waterproofing for the bridge decks, new parapets and vehicle restraint system.

To allow the completion of testing and pre-commissioning of systems the suspension of marine traffic in Lake Lothing has also been delayed until later February or early March, when the bascule span is installed.

The span will arrive from the Netherlands and enter Lake Lothing through the existing bascule bridge at the sea end of the waterway, before being rotated and positioned into place.