Dallam Bridge Roadworks

Message from Cumbria County Council Highways Department:

Re: Dallam Tower, or Milnthorpe, or New Bela Bridge

We have now received the assessment report from our consultant. Unfortunately this has concluded that, in its current condition, the bridge is only capable of carrying vehicles up to 18 tonnes gross weight. However, the report advises that the bridge would be able to accommodate normal roadgoing vehicles of up to 40 tonnes gross weight if the arch were to be repointed, subject to further analysis requiring improved access to the high-level masonry. Following such repointing work, the Consultant has advised that it may also be possible to allow some “abnormal loads” exceeding 40 tonnes, but again subject to confirmation from further analysis

In order to protect highway users, we will, on the advice of our consultant, be putting traffic lights on the bridge this week, to restrict vehicles to single-lane running along the centreline of the bridge. This will allow continued use of the bridge by normal road-going vehicles of up to 40 tonnes gross weight. Although traffic lights along this road have proved contentious in the past, this is the only way we can avoid a temporary weight restriction on the bridge, which would effectively cut off several businesses in the area due to a lack of a suitable alternative diversion for HGVs

We are immediately commencing work on the repointing project. This will however require some significant planning, including but not limited to :

• Tendering to a suitable external contractor experienced in the use of heritage lime mortar (the bridge is Grade II Listed)

• Arrangement of extensive access scaffolding across the river

• Obtaining of consents from the Environment Agency for such access scaffold

• Obtaining of Listed Building Consent

The above parameters will require the work to be undertaken during the summer months. The scaffolding will provide the access needed for our consultant to gather the further information necessary to confirm the enhanced post-repair load ratings.

We will be contacting Tarmac regarding this restriction, and the continued moratorium on abnormal loads. This will, as previously advised, most likely have a significant impact on the operation of Sandside Quarry.

Bridge Engineer

Highways Assets and Strategy | Highways and Transport Economy and Infrastructure Directorate | Cumbria County Council