A number of bus services have revised their routes to ensure that the people of Burton and South Derbyshire can still get out and about when a major bridge closes for three months.

Midland Classic, which has bases in Stanton Road, Stapenhill, and Wetmore Road, Burton, will be making several changes to the bus network in Burton from August 29 as St Peter's Bridge will be closing for three months for major repairs.

Journey times to and from the town will also be increased and the company is introducing up to four additional buses into the network to maintain the current number of journeys operated.

Although it is difficult to predict the level of traffic as a result of the "unprecedented closure", operations manager Michael Cartwright said the bus company will "make every effort to offer you a reliable service throughout".

He said: "We have worked closely with Staffordshire County Council to ensure we continue to maintain a regular and frequent service while St Peter’s Bridge is closed for major structural repairs."

A spokesman for Arriva Midlands said: "We no longer run services serving the Stapenhill area so this closure should not affect us directly.

"However we will be monitoring the traffic flow around Burton to see whether the closure causes wider delays and has an impact upon our other services in the town."

The bridge was last resurfaced 20 years ago and the bearings are corroded

Route 1: Burton – Eton Park Estate – Rolleston - Tutbury

Route revised to operate from Burton via Railway Station, Waterloo Street, Victoria Crescent, Eton Park Estate, Horninglow Road, Rolleston Road and Rolleston to Tutbury terminating at Holts Lane Estate. This reinstates buses up to every 30 minutes to and from Tutbury.

Buses will no longer serve Meadow View in Rolleston following complaints from residents and as the buses now need to turn in Tutbury there is no longer time to serve Athlestan Way, Stretton, Derby Road or Sydney Street.

There will also be an extra journey from Eton Park Estate into Burton at 7.10am Monday to Friday and from Burton to Eton Park Estate at 4.50pm. Extra journeys to Tutbury via Eton Park Estate and Rolleston will run at 4.20pm and 5.20pm from Burton.

Route 2: Edge Hill – Burton – Horninglow

Due to the closure of St. Peter’s Bridge route 2 will be split to operate in two portions to help ensure reliability on the Horninglow end of the route. Passengers travelling across the town centre will need to change buses. Please check the new timetable carefully as times will have changed.

Route 4: Burton – Swadlincote – Woodville

Most departures from Burton will be six minutes earlier to allow for the extra time to divert around St. Peter’s Bridge. Arrivals into Burton will also be later.

St Peter's Bridge will be closing for three months
St Peter's Bridge will be closing for three months

Route 9: Burton – Swadlincote – Woodville – Ashby

Journey at 7.45am from Burton to Ashby will run five minutes earlier throughout. On college days’ this journey will extend directly to Stephenson College in Coalville. Also on college days a bus will run at 4.45pm from Stephenson College to Burton via route 9 calling at Ashby, Woodville, Swadlincote and Newhall.

Most departures from Burton will be six minutes earlier to allow for the extra time to divert around St. Peter’s Bridge. Arrivals into Burton will also be later.

Route 10: Burton – Acorn Inn

Journey at 8.20am from Acorn Inn to Burton will now run at 08.30. Journey from Burton to the Acorn at 8.10am will no longer run but an additional journey will run at 7.45am on new route 809 on schooldays. Route 810 will still run at 8.20am to the Acorn Inn from Burton.

Journeys at 1.45pm and 2.20pm from Burton and 2pm and 2.35pm from Acorn Inn will be combined to run as a journey at 2pm from Burton and 2.15pm from Acorn Inn.

Route 11: Burton – Anglesey Road

Journey at 9.20am will no longer run. Route 812 at 9.25am from Barton to Burton will divert via Anglesey Road as a partial replacement.

Route 17: Burton – Wetmore - Stretton – Clay Mills

Route revised to operate from Stretton Church to Hawkins Lane via Main Street and Princess Way. Hillfield Lane, James Brindley Way and Derby Road will no longer be served due to extremely low usage.

Route 18: Burton – Stapenhill – Dalebrook

Route revised due to the closure of St. Peter’s Bridge. Buses will pick up on High Street bay 10 (opposite current departure bay) and run via High Street, Bargates, Burton Bridge to Dalebrook.

Buses will then serve Stapenhill on the return journey to the town centre which will divert from St Peter’s Street via Stapenhill Road, Burton Bridge and High Street. Times will also change as a result.

With the planned closure of St Peter's Bridge for 3 months, it is likely to cause additional traffic on an already chaotic bridge.
Burton Bridge, Bridge Street
With the planned closure of St Peter's Bridge for 3 months, it is likely to cause additional traffic on an already chaotic bridge. Burton Bridge, Bridge Street

Route 19: Burton – Swadlincote – Measham – Ashby

Most departures from Burton will be six minutes earlier to allow for the extra time to divert around St. Peter’s Bridge. Arrivals into Burton will also be later.

Route 21: Burton – Linton – Swadlincote

Journey at 6.30am from Stanton to Burton will no longer run. The journey at 9.05am on Saturdays from Stanton to Swadlincote will start in Burton at 8.55am and run the full length of route.

Most departures from Burton will be six minutes earlier to allow for the extra time to divert around St. Peter’s Bridge. Arrivals into Burton will also be later.

Route 22: Burton – Walton – Rosliston – Coton in the Elms - Swadlincote

Journey at 7.15am from Swadlincote will run direct into Burton via Rosliston Road and Main Street no longer serving Waterside. Departure times from Burton are revised due to the bridge closure.

Route 402A: Burton – Abbots Bromley – Draycott - Uttoxeter

There will be slight changes to afternoon departures from Uttoxeter. The 4.15pm and 5.45pm journeys will run at 4.30pm and 5.50pm respectively

Some of the supports to St Peter's Bridge are starting to show signs of deterioration and need replacing, so as result the bridge will be being closed for 3 months, from the end of August
Some of the supports to St Peter's Bridge are starting to show signs of deterioration and need replacing, so as result the bridge will be being closed for 3 months, from the end of August

Route 406: Uttoxeter Outer Circle

An additional journey will be introduced at 9.10am from Uttoxeter following requests from passengers. The afternoon timetable will be reduced to reflect the current demand.

If your route is not listed here there will be no changes to it from September.

Mr Cartwright added: "Details of the revised bus services are available on our website info@midlandclassic.com, from our customer helpline on 01283 500228 or you can pick-up a copy of our free timetable leaflets at local libraries or on-bus."

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