Councillors will next week be asked to approve the demolition and rebuild of Bishopsford Road bridge, following the partial collapse during heavy rainfall and river flooding in June last year.
A range of options to reopen the bridge are being put to the council’s decision-making Cabinet on Monday 24 February, with the recommendation to pull the structure down and build a completely new one in its place.
If approved, work will begin on site in March to remove the broken parts of the bridge and pre-build work including ecological assessments will take place. Main construction would then start by May and aim to be completed by Spring 2021.
Subject to the Cabinet decision, the council will also be publishing a detailed timetable of works to keep residents informed, as well as posting regular updates on the council’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport, Councillor Martin Whelton, said: “Reopening the bridge to all vehicles is a high priority for the council and it has been working hard, with its partners, to do this and mitigate the impact of its closure.
“I completely understand the frustration of the past eight months while structural assessments have been carried out, but it has been important to undertake that work to ensure a safe repair or rebuild can take place.
“Having done those assessments, we are determined to move forward as quickly as possible and get the bridge reopened.”
The Cabinet will take the decision at its meeting on Monday February 24.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Please see item eight on the Merton Cabinet agenda, below:
https://democracy.merton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=3402&Ver=4
For updated information on Bishopford Bridge work, visit:
https://www.merton.gov.uk/streets-parking-transport/roadworks/bishopsford-bridge