Roads in Burton which will be used for a diversion by drivers while major work to revamp Burton Bridge are being closed overnight so they can be improved ready for the influx of traffic.

The series of overnight closures are part of the £200,000 scheme to improve roads that will be used during the diversion when the bridge work starts on Monday, June 18.

The bridge repair work is set to last 10 weeks and is part of a £6.1million project to improve the two main bridges over the River Trent in the town centre.

Staffordshire County council highways crews are carrying out checks and patching any repairs along the proposed diversion route to ensure the roads are in the best shape possible to cope with the extra traffic over the coming weeks.

It comes as two drop-in events, for people to find out more about the bridge work have been announced.

Pictured: The signs that have been erected on Burton Bridge announcing the upcoming refurbishment and to expect delays. The bridge is currently set to close on the 18th June
Picture: Simon Deacon Pictured: The signs that have been erected on Burton Bridge announcing the upcoming refurbishment and to expect delays. The bridge is currently set to close on the 18th June

The first takes place at Burton Bridge Inn, in Bridge Street, from 2pm to 7pm today, Wednesday, June 13, and the second will be held on the ground floor of Burton Library from noon to 2pm on Thursday, June 14.

Last week the highways team carried out repairs at several sites overnight including in Horninglow Street, at the Swan Junction and Orchard Street.

This week the crews will be working in Derby Street before moving to High Street and then St Peter’s island. Work is carried out from 7pm to minimise the disruption to traffic.

Video Loading

Helen Fisher, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “With such a major scheme as this, we need to make sure the roads on the diversion route are as good as they can be and we are carrying out last minute checks and repairs to make sure that this is the case.

“In total more than £200,000 is being spent in just two weeks which will not only ensure that the diversion route is in good shape, but means the roads will be more resilient to potholes in the future, which is good news for the town.”

The work on Burton Bridge is part of the £6.1 million project to safeguard the future use on both Burton Bridge and St Peter’s Bridge.

One lane on Burton Bridge into Burton will remain open while the vital strengthening, resurfacing and drainage works take place. Cyclists and pedestrians will also be able to cross the bridge throughout the scheme.

The work has raised concerns from businesses, worried that shoppers may be discouraged from visiting Burton during the part-closure, which happened during the 11-week scheme to improve St Peter's Bridge.

The lane closure is part of investigatory work

This time, after listening to the views of residents and businesses, and also taking on board the views of the emergency services on traffic management, the council confirmed:

  • The rescheduled work will start on June 18 and finish in time for the start of the new school term in September - a reduction of three weeks on the original plan.
  • One lane on the bridge will remain open, instead of the original proposed full closure of all four lanes. This will be for drivers coming into Burton to allow emergency services to manage journeys over the bridges and encourage people to support businesses in the town.
  • Extra roadworks crews will be deployed. During the scheme work will be carried out from 7.30am to 4.30pm seven days a week, with additional twilight shifts from 2.30pm to 10.30pm Monday to Friday – except when drying time for materials is necessary.
  • Overnight working is not possible for the full duration of the scheme because of the impact of noise on nearby residential areas. Some overnight work will be needed towards the end of the project to apply the final carriageway surface and the bridge will be fully closed overnight and reopen at 6am, said a county council spokesman.
  • Access will be maintained for cyclist and pedestrians.

Diversion routes

Temporary road closure in one direction (Eastbound only for the duration of the works).

For vehicles wishing to travel in an easterly direction the diversion route will be via:

  • A511 Bridge Street
  • A511 Horninglow Street
  • A5121 Derby Street
  • A5121 Borough Road
  • A5121 Wellington Street
  • A5189 Shobnall Road
  • A5189 Evershed Way
  • A5189 Orchard Street
  • A5189 St.Peter’s Bridge
  • A444 Stapenhill Road

The information will remain on display in the library and people can also find out more about the scheme and sign up for updates at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/burtonbridges