Malfunction at Sutton Bridge's Cross Keys Bridge could have ‘massive impact’ on economies in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, councillors warned
A malfunctioning Cross keys Bridge could have a ‘massive impact’ on the economy, councillors have been warned.
Plans to spend £1.68 million to electrify the Sutton Bridge landmark, which connects Lincolnshire and Norfolk, were discussed by Lincolnshire County Council’s Transport Scrutiny Committee on Monday.
They considered proposals to convert the swing bridge – which allow ships to pass between Wisbech and the North Sea – to be operated by electric motors instead of its current hydraulic system.
Head of highway design services John Monk spelled out disastrous scenarios which could occur if the bridge was to fail, causing huge diversions for traffic or stranding ships and having knock-on problems for businesses in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
“I think the biggest saving is to the potential reputation and disruption - which are hypothetical, I appreciate - if it did have a significant issue in the future, causing the closure of the A17,” he said, responding to committee chairman Coun Michael Brookes’ question regarding cost saving benefits brought about by modernisation.
“The diversion of the route would have a massive impact on the agri-food sector and on our neighbours as the diversion would go through Wisbech.
“Similarly, if the bridge failed in the way that the River Nene was not navigable because we weren’t able to open the bridge, that would have an overnight impact on the Port of Wisbech, which would be a negative impact on the economy.”
Mr Monk – who introduced the landmark as an ‘1897 grade II-listed, 1,000-tonne Victorian-built piece of engineering machinery which happens to carry the A17 over the River Nene’ and a ’fascinating piece of infrastructure’ – added that electrifying the bridge would save around £40,000 per year in maintenance.
Coun Tom Ashton questioned whether an electric system would be ‘more reliable and more resilient?’
“The main advantage we will have by moving over to full electrification is that there will be no reliance at all on what are essentially still some Victorian parts which are moved by and carry load under the hydraulic system,” Mr Monk added.
“For example, three to four weeks a go we had a situation where one of the couplings actually broke. That would still occur under the hydraulic proposal but under electrification that wouldn’t be an issue.”
Responding to a question from Coun Adam Stokes, Mr Monk confirmed there would be minimal closures to the A17 when work was carried out.
He said: “They will be minimal and almost exclusively – I would go as far as saying – only be night time closures and one-offs.”
The plans were welcomed by Spalding’s Coun Rob Gibson.
“We need to look after this bridge. I’m glad we’re putting some money in to futureproof it,” he told the chamber.
“Without this bridge we do end up cut off from Norfolk. It’s a long way round without it.”
The committee voted unanimously to support recommendations to electrify the bridge, which manned 24 hours a day, 365 days per year by a team of five.
A decision will be made by LCC leader Coun Martin Hill between December 6 and 12.
