Lorry-battered bridge demolition delay

COUNCIL bosses have admitted that plans to demolish a lorry-battered bridge in Nuneaton have been delayed for a third time.

In fact the work to pull down the former railway line bridge in Old Hinckley Road are not expected to take place until February next year.

This would be four months later than Warwickshire County Council had planned and the fourth new date set for when the bridge, which has been at the centre of traffic woes, will finally be removed.

Shire Hall bosses say that issues with tendering out the contract for the works are once again behind the set-back.

This was the same case when the works were due to start in August, then September and then in the October half-term.

But, because a pledge has been made to carry out the demolition during the school holidays, to reduce disruption on the roads, and there is also a ban on any major roadworks over Christmas, the next available time is the school holidays in February 2020.

A Shire Hall spokesperson explained the situation, saying: “Unfortunately the tender process was far more complex than had been expected as there were literally no documents in existence relating to the bridge other than a single A4 piece of paper detailing safety inspections over the years.

“Before this work could go out to tender all the documentation needed to ensure a safe demolition had to be created from scratch, which is a laborious process.

“The good news is that the work is now out to tender with a deadline of 26 October and the award process is expected to be swift and completed by early November 2019.

“Unfortunately there is a blanket ban on works over the Christmas period in Nuneaton, which would be our first available opportunity, after awarding of the contract, to complete the works.

“In keeping with our commitment to minimise the disruption caused by the demolition, the next available dates after Christmas are the February 2020 half term.”