Cumbria County Council are reminding residents that improvement works will be taking place on the iconic, Jubilee Bridge in Barrow.

Work on Cumbria’s longest road bridge is scheduled to re-start on 19 January, weather permitting, and will include the completion of painting to the steelwork.

Jubilee Bridge’s refurbishment has been programmed over several years.  To date more than 1,000 repairs to the steelwork have been completed, and the majority of the steel structure has been re-painted. A plaque commemorating the renaming of Walney Bridge to Jubilee Bridge in 1935, when the bridge was initially built in 1908, was also restored, and now sits proudly on the newly renovated bridge.

To maintain access for ships, the steelwork repairs and painting were divided into several phases.  The most recent phase of the project was completed in May 2021, and the final phase will begin this month. Work on the opening span is planned to be completed in late April ensuring that the bridge can accommodate shipping in May. It is anticipated that all work will be completed before the end of May.

Once the works begin, the southern footway will be closed; however, the northern footway will remain open and traffic flow will not be restricted.

The southern footway will reopen in early March 2023, while the northern footway will close.

During the construction period, the 350-metre-long bridge will remain open to traffic.

These works will be carried out by the local firm, Story Contracting Ltd, from Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm, and on alternate weekends.

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:

“I would like to thank the residents for their patience and support during these works. I would also like to reassure the community that the bridge will remain open to traffic and pedestrians, but pedestrians will need to follow the directional signs.

“These repairs are necessary because the old waterproofing on the bridge deck was failing, and water was seeping through and corroding the steel superstructure.

 “We are aiming to finalise these improvements before the bridge lifts re-commence in May.”