A17 to close for maintenance work at Cross Keys Bridge Sutton Bridge

A bridge is going to be closed later this week for vital repairs.

Cross Keys Bridge in Sutton Bridge will be closed overnight tomorrow (Thursday, June 5) while engineers repair the hydraulic lifting jacks - so parts of the A17 will be closed.

This is one of a series of one-night closures which will be taking place between now and November to complete the essential maintenance.

The famous swing bridge is an important link between the Lincolnshire and Norfolk sides of the River Nene so motorists will be diverted along the A47.

Karen Cassar, assistant director for Highways at Lincolnshire County Council said: “The hydraulic lifting jacks are fundamental to the operation of the swing bridge and have been identified as faulty and need urgent attention.

“Expert teams will be carrying out four separate maintenance schemes which will involve a night-time closure of the bridge for one-night at a time.

“The crew will be removing and servicing each hydraulic jack which are used in moving the bridge. Each night of work will be for one set of jack works at a time. Each jack will be replaced with a serviced jack that has been refurbished and re-sealed.

“The work is being carried out using single night closures to minimise disruption on the highway network. In order to access these critical parts of the bridge, the bridge itself needs to be partly swung open to enable our contractors to get access.

“Because of this, we have no other option than to close the road whilst the works are undertaken. The timing of the overnight road closures will be from 7pm until 6am to avoid peak travel times so as to lessen disruption on the local road network as much as possible.”

Further bridge closures are planned on Thursday, August 28; Monday, September 29, or Monday, October 13; either Monday, November 10 or 24.

Work times on-site will be from 7pm to 6am. A road closure is needed throughout for each night, with a road diversion using like-for-like roads in place.

The signed diversion route will be diverting east via A17 / A47 / B198 / A1101 / A17 and vice versa for westbound on the A17.

Ms Cassar added: “These repairs will enable the continued use of Cross Keys Swing Bridge to allow it to serve both vehicular and marine traffic. By carrying out these schemes we will prevent further damage to these key mechanical parts, which ultimately reduces the need to close the bridge for long periods of time in the future.

“Our Closure 3 and 4 dates will be confirmed closer to the time, with at least two weeks of notice. At the moment, we cannot be absolutely firm when the bridge can be serviced in that part of its schedule, so we have booked in two possible dates to allow flexibility so that the works are completed.

“Lincolnshire County Council has a legal duty to maintain navigation on the River Nene to permit the passage of ships going to/from the Port of Wisbech. We will do everything possible to deliver the work with the minimum of disruption and I’d like to thank everyone effected by this scheme for their patience and understanding whilst the jacks are replaced.”

For up-to-date information about this and other roadworks, please visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks.