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28
Sept
Repair cost revealed for historic bridge near Masham
Repairs to a bridge near Masham following a collision with an HGV are expected to cost around £40,000 — while longer-term plans could see the historic arch raised to reduce the risk of further strikes.
North Yorkshire Council is considering increasing the height of the arch of Middleham Bridge by around 250mm, which officers say would allow most HGVs to pass safely underneath.
The proposal is one of several options being explored following the latest collision, although any alteration to the historic structure would require listed building consent.
In the meantime, specialist contractor Wilf Noble Construction Ltd has been appointed directly to carry out urgent repairs, with the estimated £40,000 cost expected to be recovered through an insurance recharge.
The bridge over the River Ure has been completely closed since September 3, when an HGV struck its southern decorative arch.
Middleham Bridge.
The impact caused significant damage to the arch ring and dislodged stonework.
An attempt to carry out repairs the following day was abandoned after the arch was judged to be too unstable, and measures have since been put in place to prevent vehicles and pedestrians crossing the bridge.
Wilf Noble was selected without a competitive tender because the council wanted a contractor to be appointed immediately and work to begin as quickly as possible.
The company has previously worked on Middleham Bridge, including after similarly serious damage in 2008.
Council bridge manager Philip Richardson said in a briefing note:
The quickest option we believe would be to award to Wilf Nobles who did the works in 2008 as well as other repairs to this bridge as they have extensive experience with supporting and working on this arch.
On the proposed raising of the arch, he added: “Increasing the height of the arch by approximately 250mm would mean that most vehicles would be able to pass safely through.”
The 2008 repair was completed within a week of the damage occurring.
The latest work is expected to involve supporting the arch before locally replacing damaged stone.
The report says a more substantial repair, involving taking down and replacing stone above the arch, would be better but would take “significantly longer” to complete.
The council is also looking at introducing a Traffic Regulation Order banning vehicles over 13ft from passing beneath the arch.
Officers say the existing height warning signs are not enforceable and are believed to be “regularly ignored”.
The bridge was built in 1830 with numerous modifications to the structure since.
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