Engineers are set to work through the night in a bid to fix the technical issues plaguing Whitby Swing Bridge.
A specialist team of bridge and highways experts from North Yorkshire Council will take over the site this week to figure out why the bridge’s two sides are failing to close properly.
To let them get to work, a full road closure will be in place from 6pm tomorrow (Tuesday, 30 June) until 2am on Wednesday (1 July).
The bridge, which dates back to 1908 and spans 75 feet to link the east and west sides of the town, is currently open to pedestrians and traffic. However, it has been hit by a series of emergency closures recently to keep the public safe.
Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director for highways and infrastructure, said: “We fully appreciate the impact this issue is having on the town, its residents, businesses and visitors and we will do everything we can to get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible.”
What’s causing the problem?
While the historic structure is inspected every three months, engineers suspect recent weather might be the culprit.
- The Heat Factor: Recent extreme heat may have caused the metal to expand, disrupting the bridge’s normal movement.
- Rust Build-Up: Normally, the movement of the bridge naturally clears away rust. Because it hasn’t been opening and closing properly, engineers need to manually clear corrosion from the deck ends.
What it means for your travel
If you need to cross the harbour tomorrow evening, here is what you need to know:
- A shuttle bus service will run between 6pm and midnight tomorrow to help people get across.
- Nearby residents are warned to expect some noise during the night.
- If the bridge is still too warm from the daytime sun, the start of the work might be delayed.
Council bosses are urging people to stay safe and respect the barriers while the team works through the night.
“I want to thank everyone for their patience and reassure them we are taking this very seriously,” added Barrie Mason. “While we do this, we ask that people don’t take unnecessary risks and respect the closure.”
He added that the council plans to install light-coloured, high-friction surfacing soon to help reflect sunlight and reduce heat build-up.
