Latest news with #repairworks
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southport Pier could reopen next year says council leader
Southport Pier could reopen next year if repair works get underway in the coming months, a council leader has Victorian structure has been closed over safety fears since December 2022 and has an estimated repair bill cost of £ Rachel Reeves confirmed last month the pier would benefit from cash from a new fund aimed at speeding up "forgotten" local Council leader Marion Atkinson said: "We're ready to go within six to eight weeks." Ms Atkinson told BBC Radio Merseyside she was "delighted" at the funding announcement and was awaiting further said: "We're absolutely wanting to get on with it."I think it will probably take between 12 to 14 months for it to go from start to finish."We'll be looking at ways in which, if we can, to get it done as quickly as we possibly can, but it does take a lot of time because there's a lot of work."Southport Pier was shut by the council in 2022 on the advice of structural closure has had a significant impact on the town's leisure and tourism industry with many residents and local business owners keen to see the pier Reeves described the pier as "an iconic symbol of coastal heritage" when she announced the funding boost in June, and said the investment would create jobs and new business Atkinson said lessons will be learned from a previous unsuccessful attempt to repair the pier and the authority will ensure the right materials and construction methods are used. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Delays expected due to double lane closure on bridge
Rush hour drivers were expected to feel the brunt of worsened traffic on the Orwell Bridge near Ipswich after two lanes were shut at the same time. They were closed on the major route through Suffolk to allow for £6m repair works to continue on Monday. Widespread delays previously broke out when an eastbound carriageway was closed on Monday, 23 June, which was followed by a westbound lane on Saturday. Martin Fellows, from National Highways, warned motorists using the A14 to "allow extra time" for their journeys. While the lanes were shut, traffic was limited to 60mph on the eastbound side and 40mph for those travelling west while the contraflow system was in place. Work to replace 37-year-old joints on the bridge was expected to be completed by late August. It has been a point of concern for Dan Trent, owner of Dan's Coach Travel in Stowmarket. "It's causing delays to our customers, passengers, drivers - it's causing them stress that they don't need," he said. Mike Barrett, who runs a food charity in Ipswich, added the traffic was already increasing "mileage, delivery times, fuel costs" prior to the westbound closure. Queues had previously gone back as far as Sproughton and caused delays on the A12 at the Copdock Interchange. National Highways acknowledged the traffic issues but said the structural project was essential. Mr Fellows thanked drivers for their patience in the interim. "We remain confident that all works will be completed by mid to late August, as originally planned," he added. "The A14 will still be your best route whilst we are doing this work, so please stay on the A14, but allow extra time for your journey." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Next stage of Orwell Bridge closure delayed What could solve Orwell Bridge traffic chaos? Bridge safety works causing 'chaos', say businesses National Highways - The Orwell Bridge
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Orwell Bridge lane closures predicted to cause rush hour delays
Rush hour drivers were expected to feel the brunt of worsened traffic on the Orwell Bridge near Ipswich after two lanes were shut at the same were closed on the major route through Suffolk to allow for £6m repair works to continue on delays previously broke out when an eastbound carriageway was closed on Monday, 23 June, which was followed by a westbound lane on Fellows, from National Highways, warned motorists using the A14 to "allow extra time" for their journeys. While the lanes were shut, traffic was limited to 60mph on the eastbound side and 40mph for those travelling west while the contraflow system was in place. Work to replace 37-year-old joints on the bridge was expected to be completed by late has been a point of concern for Dan Trent, owner of Dan's Coach Travel in Stowmarket."It's causing delays to our customers, passengers, drivers - it's causing them stress that they don't need," he Barrett, who runs a food charity in Ipswich, added the traffic was already increasing "mileage, delivery times, fuel costs" prior to the westbound had previously gone back as far as Sproughton and caused delays on the A12 at the Copdock Interchange. National Highways acknowledged the traffic issues but said the structural project was Fellows thanked drivers for their patience in the interim."We remain confident that all works will be completed by mid to late August, as originally planned," he added."The A14 will still be your best route whilst we are doing this work, so please stay on the A14, but allow extra time for your journey." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- The Sun
Key tunnel used by thousands of commuters every week to close for 10 weeks for £10m upgrade after ‘repeated faults'
COMMUTERS are being warned to plan ahead as a major tunnel is set to close for 10 weeks due to repair works. Train journeys are expected to be disrupted from this Sunday May 18 until Sunday July 27, as work begins on the £10 million upgrade. The Blackheath tunnel's planned closure will affect passengers in south-east London travelling between Blackheath and Charlton. From Sunday, train services will be diverted via Greenwich and Bexleyheath for Network Rail to carry out their "essential repairs" on the 175-year-old Victorian structure. The closure comes on the same day as timetable changes are set for the Southeastern rail, so passengers are reminded to keep up to date with different services. Tunnel repair work will include replacing thousands of bricks and installing a new tunnel lining to stop water leaks, rebuilding the drainage systems, removal of 'wet beds' and waterlogged sections of the track. This work on the one-mile tunnel is said to mean less faults and delays for passengers in the long-term, as well as improve bumpy sections that passengers experience on the track. Around 1,000 minutes of delays are reported to have occurred for Southeastern passengers last year. Speaking for the Southeastern-Network Rail Alliance, Network Rail's Kent route director David Davidson said: "We know there's never a good time to close the railway, and that changes to services for a 10-week period is a long time. "These essential repairs will improve the safety and operation of the tunnel. 'We are carrying out the repairs over a series of 10-week closures because working in cramped and narrow tunnels is incredibly difficult." Extra routes will also run on the Woolwich line for connections to the Docklands Light Railway and Elizabeth line, as well as extra services on the Bexleyheath line. Around 3,500 passengers per week are estimated to travel between Lewisham and Abbey Wood through the Blackheath tunnel. This closure follows another 10-week shut down which occurred last year, where engineers cleaned soot from the tunnel lining, conducted detailed surveys, and replaced thousands of bricks. It also comes just days after a power outage struck London underground passengers in the south-west on Monday. Passengers on the Bakerloo, Waterloo and City lines were impacted as the lines were suspended, and no trains between London Bridge and Finchley Road on the Jubilee line were in operation. 1
