Flood-hit town is reunited as new £4.4m bridge opens
A TOWN split in two when its 18th century bridge collapsed in the 2015 Christmas floods was finally reunited yesterday.
Contractors worked around the clock to complete the rebuilding – expected to take two years – in just over 12 months.
While the work went on, residents of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, had to make a 16-mile detour to get to work or take their children to school.
But yesterday shortly before 3pm the first vehicle rolled over the new bridge across the River Wharfe. Don Mackenzie, of North Yorkshire County Council, said: “The community has been cut in two for a year by the bridge’s collapse and people have been eagerly looking forward to being reconnected.”
Yesterday’s reopening was marked by a parade led by pupils from the town’s three primary schools. One of them, Lydia Jackson, of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, cut the ceremonial ribbon, flanked by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and local Tory MP Nigel Adams.
Delayed
The rebuilding of the bridge will be further celebrated in April when Tadcaster hosts the start of Day Two of the Tour of Yorkshire cycle race.
Work to paint road markings on the new bridge was going on until minutes before yesterday’s ceremony, which was delayed by an hour to allow the paint to dry.
Pet shop owner Martin Marner said: “The disruption has taken an immense toll on local businesses. My trade has been probably 60 per cent down.”
The reconstruction, which has included widening the bridge, cost £4.4million.