Workmen have certainly not hung around in getting on with essential work to replace rusted bearings on St Peter’s Bridge, as the surface of the major route was today all but removed.

Machines and workmen were today, Wednesday, August 30, busy on the bridge less than a day after it was closed off to traffic for the repairs, which will last for three months.

Photographs taken this morning show the bridge and the area surrounding resembling a ghost town as machines got to work stripping off the road surface. The sight was a far cry from the usual hustle and bustle on the main route that sees 24,000 vehicles pass over it every single day.

Today the county council highways workers had got straight to work on the revamp, despite the concerns from some residents who had taken to social media yesterday, Tuesday, August 29, to voice their frustration at delays while claiming that no work was being done. This was certainly not the case as our pictures show.

Crews were on site from 6.30am on Tuesday and dug investigatory trial holes to establish the exact positions of utility apparatus and existing material depths, before 'planing of the bridge surface' construction began on Wednesday. This sees the surface of road removed using machinery.

DEGM20170829A-009_C.jpeg Picture - Geoff Girvan-Merryweather St Peter's Bridge Closures have begun. The closure is set to last for 3 months. Empty bridge following the closure

Drainage investigations also started yesterday to establish the current condition of the storm water drainage and prove flows, while planing of the existing surface began today.

Although the bridge has only been closed for two days, motorists are already reporting major disruption on the roads.

Gail Jones said she queued for ages past the tennis club on Ashby Road and things got "worse and worse".

She said: "I would love to walk but I live in Ashby and own a business in Burton and it is really difficult. I really worry for all of us small business owners because people just won’t bother coming in. It will be a ghost town within a month."

Jo Banfield wrote: "Okay, so day one of the bridge closure didn’t work. Coming from Main Street in Stapenhill you have got no chance of even getting on to Stapenhill Road [the diversion route] as all the traffic from Stanton Road is blocking the whole roundabout.

"I had to push in to get on the island, then we roll for 20 minutes in first gear to the lights at the Burton Bridge, where the traffic is nose to tail and rolled for a further 10 minutes to the Meadowside.

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

"Some might say why didn’t I walk? Because I pay £360 for a parking permit that’s why. Whoever has set these diversions hasn’t thought about it very well."

Sharon Brittain said that "moaning about it changes nothing" and she would be working to find as many positives from it as possible.

She said: "If you are able, take some of these positive actions to reduce the stress and the traffic. Use public transport and reduce the amount of vehicles out there. Get your walking shoes on or get your bike out and get some exercise.

"Shop local where you can and do your big grocery shopping online if you can. That's one van versus 20 cars! If possible car share your journeys with friends and neighbours.

"Yes it’s a real pain, yes it is inconvenient but there are options if you can be bothered to make an effort. For my part I will be walking to work as much as I can and when I have to get in the car I will be donning my best smile and remembering it is not forever and there are far worse things going on in the world than a bridge closure. Put some perspective on it people."

Mark Deaville, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member responsible for highways, 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.

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

"These are vital improvements which will ensure that the bridge, which forms a vital link through the town, will be free of unplanned and disruptive maintenance work in the future, and help support local businesses and economic growth.

He added: "We know that the work will cause some disruption but we are 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 for their co-operation and patience."

The works, which will last until the end of November, will strengthen the bridge which will allow HGVs to continue to access the town, along with waterproofing and resurfacing. This will be followed by improvements to Burton Bridge in the New Year.

Where will traffic be diverted to during the closure of St Peter’s Bridge?

For vehicles wishing to travel in an easterly direction the diversion route will be via A5189 Orchard Street, Evershed Way, Shobnall Road, A5121 Wellington Street, Waterloo Street, Byrkley Street, Derby Street, A511 Horninglow Street, Wetmore Road, Bridge Street and A444 Stapenhill Road.

For vehicles wishing to travel in a westerly direction the diversion route will be via A444 Stapenhill Road, A511 Burton Bridge, Bridge Street, Horninglow Street, A5121 Derby Street, Borough Road, Wellington Street, A5189 Shobnall Road, Evershed Way and Orchard Street.

For pedestrians and cyclists the diversion route will be via the newly refurbished and strengthened Ferry Bridge that provides a direct route from Stapenhill to Burton town centre.