Controversial plans to close one of Burton’s major bridges for three months have caused a huge response among residents in Burton and South Derbyshire, with hundreds of people taking to social media to have their say with many fearing there will be gridlock.
It was revealed on Thursday that major works to improve St Peter’s Bridge in Stapenhill, will begin at the end of this month, and will see the route closed until November. The major works will repair "life expired" bearings, which if left to deteriorate, would result in a weight limit being introduced on the bridge.
The announcement has prompted a mixed reaction from residents, with some expressing anger at the plans and others suggesting alternative routes.
Emma Robey said the traffic was already a nightmare and this would only add to her woes. She wrote: "Wow. So a 10-minute journey to work is going to turn into much longer if I have to go through the whole of town during rush-hour. They have clearly not thought of the impact this is going to cause major issues."
Julian O Connell called the idea stupid, saying: "Burton is already a traffic jam, this will kill Burton off and people will shop elsewhere."
Helen McIvor wrote: "Three months?? I get that it needs to be done but the traffic on both bridges is horrendous as it is, without everyone using one or going through Walton. I hope they work on it at night and extend it while they are at it."
Louise Ruprecht said she "can’t even imagine the chaos" the works would cause. She said: "I am not looking forward to the daily school run across the river and then returning to work in town. What an utter nightmare."
Ann Chamberlain said Burton would come to a "standstill" and suggested that the town needed a wider bridge and lights system at the roundabout.
Susan Ann King said it was bad enough getting out of town with just one bridge in the early eighties. She added: "Imagine how it will be with today’s traffic."
Elizabeth Greenwood said the closure meant she would have to work from home, writing: "When the Walton bridge roundabout is shut for roadworks and this bridge is shut too, getting to work will be interesting. Henhurst Hill and the Old Bridge, or Kings Bromley, Alrewas and Catton."
Others seemed less bothered by the plans and tried to remind readers that the town has managed before without the use of the bridge.
Ian Taylor said: "Yes Burton traffic is awful but get a life everyone, it is three months. Think of others and get up for work earlier."
While some people used the opportunity to suggest other improvements which can be made to the bridge.
Luke Dawson said: "While they are at it they could make the pavements narrower or just one side, then have three lanes on the bridge. The middle lane can be into town from 6am until 2pm and out of town from 2pm until 6am."
Matt Holman said: "This would be a lot more palatable if there were plans not only to refurbish, but to widen the roadway and include a third lane. Perhaps we could pioneer something along the lines of a third lane that flows into town from 6am until 12pm and then flows out of town from 12pm until 6am. Even if it is just one way the whole time, the bridge would be improved.
"We already have a footbridge which would take the pedestrians, so why is this not on the cards?"
The works will begin on Tuesday, August 29, after £6.1 million was secured for the project.
Vital strengthening work to the bridge will be carried out by by Staffordshire County Council. It will allow HGVs to continue to access the town, along with waterproofing and resurfacing to the bridge. This will be followed by improvements to Burton Bridge in the New Year.
Mark Deaville is the council’s cabinet member responsible for highways. He said: "This is an important investment in the gateways to the town and will help make a real difference to the long term prosperity of people in Burton.
"The improvements will ensure that these bridges, which form vital links through Burton, will be free of unplanned and disruptive maintenance work in the future, and help support local businesses and economic growth.
"We know that the work will cause some disruption but we will be doing everything we can to minimise this and get the work done as efficiently as possible. I would ask people to bear with us as the work is carried out and thank them in advance for their co-operation and patience."
