Swing bridge set to close for “routine maintenance”

ONE of Warrington’s rusting swing bridges is to be shut for three days next week so maintenance work can be carried out.

Just hours after Warrington Worldwide reported on the rusting bridges with residents’ fears of potential safety concerns, Peel Ports put up signs warning residents of the work.
The company confirmed that ‘routine maintenance’ will take place next week, late at night and til the early morning between November 5 and 7.

The bridge spanning the Manchester Ship Canal on London Road, Stockton Heath, will be closed to traffic and pedestrians from 11 pm until 5 am during the three dates.
Peel Ports’ spokesperson said the closure was to do with routine maintenance.
No further information was given.
And a spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said it was awaiting further information from Peel regarding the closures.
Earlier, Warrington Worldwide exclusively revealed that the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council, Prof. Steven Broomhead is calling on Peel Ports to take action to repair the town’s rusting swing bridges.
Concerns had emerged from residents after the bridge in London Road, Stockton Heath, briefly became stuck open again, causing traffic chaos in South Warrington.

Prof. Broomhead said the authority was “very willing to discuss realistic proposals for the upgraded maintenance and painting of swing bridges” but he added the cost of the works “should be covered by Peel Ports and not local people.”
He warned that the previous Peel plans were “unworkable” and would cause “a significant amount of disruption.”