123-year-old bridge near Boston could get £26 million replacement
Lincolnshire County Council has applied to the government for funding
A 123-year-old bridge near Boston could get a £26 million replacement in a bid to “improve access” for residents.
Lincolnshire County Council has applied to the government for funding to replace the ageing Langrick Bridge.
The wrought iron structure, which was built in 1903 to replace a ferry service, is a single-span bridge carrying the B1192 over the River Witham.
The council says it has a host of issues, from its narrow width and restricted weight capacity to its escalating maintenance costs and end-of-life structural issues.
It has been looking to replace the bridge since at least 2017, but has so far been unsuccessful in attracting funding.
The authority is now seeking nearly £25m from a Department for Transport infrastructure fund, which it would contribute another £1.5million to.
If successful, a new three-span bridge would be built to the west of the current bridge.
The authority says there is little chance of it being able to fund the large project by itself and if unsuccessful, a maintenance scheme would be put in place to prolong the bridge’s life.
However a council report warns this “would not provide a long-term solution and current existing issues with the bridge would remain”.
Eventually the bridge will “deteriorate further, leading to further restrictions and possibly full closure in the long term”.
The structure connects the villages of Langrick to the north with Langrick Bridge and the A1121 to the south, with traffic lights controlling the flow of traffic.
The report says that a new bridge, built to modern standards, would “improve access for local communities and promote economic growth in the surrounding area.”
The council’s Highways and Transport committee will discuss the application at their meeting next week (September 14).
The bridge was closed for emergency repairs in 2022 to replace expansion joints that connect the bridge to the road.