A major Burton bridge is to get a £6.1 million cash boost for improvements which will to stop a weight limit being imposed on the main route. It comes after persistent lobbying from councillors and Burton’s MP for improves there.
Road users are set to benefit from the cash after it was given to highways authority Staffordshire County Council to replace bearings on St Peter’s Bridge. The bearings need urgent work. The cash will also be used to carry out other vital repairs and maintenance to Burton Bridge in the town.
The announcement of the cash boost from Government funds comes following a lengthy campaign by Tory MP Andrew Griffiths and Conor Wileman, who represents Winshill and Brizlincote on Staffordshire County Council.
Both bridges are main routes in and out of the town and are used by thousands of travellers each day.
As part of their lobbying efforts, Mr Griffiths met with Transport Ministers Andrew Jones and Jesse Norman, while Councillor Wileman worked closely with the county council’s officers to ensure the bid was top quality and would be successful.
Nw Mr Griffiths has said the cash injection is "fantastic news for everyone who lives and works in Burton" and he is delighted that his and Councillor Wileman's hard work has secured the investment for the town.
He said: "Anyone who goes over Burton’s bridges on a regular basis could see that repairs needed to be done. The work would not have been able to be completed without this money, and it will now secure this vital part of Burton’s road network for years to come and will give a real boost to the town’s economy.
"My thanks to the ministers at the department for agreeing this funding, which is so important to the town."
The pair first started lobbying the Department of Transport for the funds after it was revealed that 'life expired' bearings on St Peter's Bridge, would result in a weight limit being imposed if they deteriorated further. The bearings allow the bridge to flex and move as necessary because the bridge shrinks and expands as a result of temperature variations. After 30 years the bearings have corroded and this process limits the amount of movement and there was a risk of causing structural damage to the bridge if the money was not available to replace them.
Speaking to the Burton Mail back in January, Mr Griffiths said: “It was last resurfaced 20 years ago and the structure has rapidly deteriorated in the last three years, although some reactive maintenance has taken place, the bridge bearings are now inflicting serious damage on the structure and must be replaced.
"It is vital to everyone who lives and works in Burton that St Peter's Bridge is in the best condition possible as it is the main crossing over the River Trent."
Speaking this week Councillor Wileman said he is delighted that the money has been secured and he will focus on working with highways engineers to minimise disruption, in the coming weeks.
He said: "Staffordshire County Council have around £27 million to spend on the maintenance of our roads annually including maintenance of traffic lights, drains, barriers and the roads themselves.
"This extra money from central government means that we can spend more money on junctions in Burton which need some urgent attention. The structural improvements on St Peter's Bridge are important to ensure the bridge can continue to take large amounts of traffic in the years to come, but it also means that plans to widen the Bridge are viable.
"The work will also include fixing the gulleys on Burton Bridge to stop the ridiculous flooding situation which is putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk.
"My thanks goes to those who worked on the bid at Staffordshire County Council and Andrew Griffiths for his support and lobbying in Westminster."
The funding is part of the multi-million pound Highway Challenge Fund announced by the Department for Transport earlier this month, which will see 19 projects across the country given a share of £75 million of government investment for essential road maintenance, to refurbish bridges, improve junctions and boost flood defences.
Mark Deaville, cabinet member for commercial at Staffordshire County Council, said: "Good roads are important for communities and for businesses, not just for getting from A to B safely, but for supporting economic growth and better access to jobs, education and learning.
"The investment is great news and will make a real difference to the long term prosperity of people in the town. The improvements will ensure that these bridges, which form a vital link through Burton, will be free of unplanned and disruptive maintenance work in the future, and help support local businesses and safeguard economic growth."
Announcing the projects that are set to benefit from the fund, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling MP said: "The Challenge Fund enables local highway authorities to carry out major maintenance projects that might otherwise be difficult to fund. It will help to keep traffic moving and bridges open, and support communities and local businesses with well-maintained roads."
Plans are currently being finalised to deliver the works within the Department for Transports required timescale.
£75 million will be spent on essential road maintenance
Councils in England have been awarded funding to refurbish bridges, improve junctions and boost flood defences as part of a multi-million pound government investment announced on August 1, by Transport Minister Jesse Norman.
Nineteen projects across the country will receive a share of £75 million of government investment for essential road maintenance.
Local authorities were challenged to put forward schemes which could make a real difference to road users. Winning projects include junction improvements, repairs and resurfacing, flood resilience measures, bridge and viaduct refurbishment, and improved drainage.
These improvements will cut congestion, reduce journey times and improve reliability, as well as helping to support local businesses and boost economic growth.
Transport Minister Jesse Norman, said: "We are taking the big decisions for Britain’s future by investing in the infrastructure the country needs and ensuring motorists have the well maintained roads they expect and deserve.
"This investment will enable councils to repair roads and key infrastructure like bridges – boosting reliability on our roads so people can stay connected with family, friends and employment, while also keeping businesses connected with customers."
Most of the schemes will be delivered within the next 12 months, so many drivers will see an immediate impact.
St Peter's Bridge - A brief history
St Peter's Bridge first opened to traffic in August 1985.
MP Lynda Chalker, the then Minister for Transport, officially opened the bridge in November 1985.
Work on the new bridge had started in August 1982 with the pedestrian footbridge put in place in October 1982 and houses in nearby St Peter's Street were demolished in May 1983.
The £3.5 million project had been a long-awaited boost for commuters – as the idea of a second river crossing had been first mooted in 1902.
