Routine maintenance work, scheduled to take up to three months, has begun on the underside of the Ripon bypass Duchess of Kent bridge.
Scaffolding has been put in place under the bridge to give workers access to parts of the substructure where painting is taking place.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Council told the Stray Ferret:
“We are repainting the bridge. Work will take up to 12 weeks and the pedestrian underpass will remain open.”
In late June 2021, essential maintenance work was carried out over a two-week period, involving replacing the expansion joints and surfacing works to remove the depressions at each end of the bridge.
The work took place outside of peak traffic hours to minimise disruption, but the current maintenance activities will not impact on road users.
The bridge, which spans the River Ure, is named after the Yorkshire-born duchess and was opened by her in March 1996.
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Get set for delays on Ripon bypass
Essential maintenance work on Ripon’s Duchess of Kent bridge is scheduled to start on June 28 and take two weeks.
The bridge, crossing the River Ure, is part of the city’s bypass. It was officially opened by the Yorkshire-born duchess in March 1996.
The arterial road carries traffic around the city, avoiding Ripon’s ancient streets. It is a key route to the A1 and A1M
Advance warning signs are being put in place this week to advise drivers of likely delays.
Councillor Mike Chambers, North Yorkshire County Council’s member for Ripon North, said:
“The maintenance to this well-used bridge will involve replacing the expansion joints and surfacing works to remove the depressions at each end of the bridge.
“The work will be carried out overnight to minimise disruption as much as possible. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Work on the bridge will be carried out between 6pm and 6am over a two-week period.
The work will take place from 6pm to 6am using four-way traffic lights and is scheduled to finish on July 10.
At the northern end of the bridge is a roundabout with exits for Ripon city centre and Copt Hewick.
The lights will be removed before rush hour each day to reduce inconvenience to road users.
The council said it was notifying nearby residents directly affected by the roadworks.
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