Further delay to reopening of bridge

The reopening of a bridge in Beverley is to be delayed by a further few weeks.

The 72-year-old Weel Bridge was removed in April and transported to Sheffield for specialist refurbishment by contractor Esh Construction.

However, as work progressed, engineers uncovered hidden defects resulting in the opening being pushed back from July to August. That has now been further delayed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, due to the contractor experiencing supply chain issues.

A spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said the bridge would return in the next couple of weeks and it would then take a couple of weeks before it could reopen to the public.

The household waste and recycling centre in Weel will remain closed until the bridge is fully operational.

The council is investing approximately £1m to upgrade the 20-tonne metal road bridge over the River Hull.

The overhaul is designed to strengthen and repair the bridge, improve safety and access for traffic, and extend its life.

The work includes the installation of a modern operating system and the creation of a shared path across the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.

Once the bridge has returned to Beverley, the council spokesperson said it would then take "a couple of weeks for the installation, commissioning and safety checks to be carried out before it can reopen to the public".

They added: "Thank you to residents and drivers for their patience while we complete the final touches to this scheme."

Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices