Final refurbishment works on Barrow’s iconic Jubilee Bridge are set to start on Monday 28 October with minimal disruption for road users.
The remaining paint works will put the finishing touches on the Council’s major improvement programme that has seen over 1,000 successful repairs to steelwork and waterproofing of the bridge deck.
An initial closure of one traffic lane will be in place for up to two days from Monday 28 October from 9:15am to 2:45pm for the team to safely erect a scaffolding structure before the paint work begins. Traffic management will be onsite to monitor the flow of traffic and respond to any required assistance.
During the refurbishment period, the 350-metre-long bridge will remain open to all traffic.
Work will begin on the south side of the bridge, requiring the footpath to close to pedestrians who can continue using the north side. In early January 2025, the south-side footpath will reopen, and work will be mirrored on the north side.
As with the previous phases of the programme, renovations will be carried out by Westmorland and Furness Council’s local contractor, Story Contracting.
Cllr Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Assets said: "Carrying up to 24,000 vehicles daily and as the only mainland crossing from Barrow to Walney Island, we recognise the importance of this integral transport link and the history it holds for the local area.
“I would like to thank residents in advance for their patience and support as we complete the final stage of our long term improvement programme on Jubilee Bridge.
“As a result of community-focused planning with Story Contacting, road users will face minimal disruption during the work period as the bridge will remain open to traffic and pedestrians.
“These extensive repairs have futureproofed the bridge and ensured it will remain safe and functional for the future.”
Works are temperature-dependent, meaning they can only proceed when conditions are optimal to ensure the quality of the repairs.
The Council is restricted to conduct the remaining works between October and March within the available working window outside of ‘lifting season’, as stipulated in the Cumbria Act.
For enquires on the final stage of the Jubilee Bridge improvement programme, complete the Westmorland and Furness Highways Online Reporting Form.