Essential work begins at Porthill footbridge in Shrewsbury
Essential work to repair and refurbish Porthill footbridge, which crosses the River Severn between the Quarry and Porthill in Shrewsbury is starting today.
The work will involve carrying out repairs to the bridge’s structural steelwork, grit blasting and repainting the whole bridge and replacing the bridge’s timber deck.
Whilst the work is being carried out the bridge will be closed from next Monday 12 March until late July.
When the bridge is closed, signs will divert pedestrians and cyclists over the Welsh Bridge.
The Sabrina Boat will be running a ferry service between the Quarry and the Boathouse Inn. As the result of an innovative partnership, the Boathouse Inn, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council will be underwriting some of the cost of providing the ferry service with Sabrina Boat attempting to make up the difference by charging people 50p per crossing.
The ferry will initially operate between 8am and 7pm on Mondays to Saturdays and between 10am and 7pm on Sundays. It will be open to everyone, regardless of whether they are customers of the Boathouse Inn. As the scheme progresses, the operating hours will be reviewed and may change depending on how well used the ferry is.
People are being advised that to access the ferry it will be necessary to negotiate steps.
Provided that the river remains at typical summer levels, river traffic should not be affected by the work and the Sabrina Boat cruises will be able to continue as normal. Also, events scheduled to be held in the Quarry will continue as planned.
When the work is underway, the nearby businesses, such as the Boathouse Inn, will remain open for business as usual.
The contractor carrying out the work will be McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd who will be supervised by Shropshire Council’s term contract consultant, Mouchel.
It is estimated that the work will cost approximately £550,000.
Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for bridge maintenance said:
‘‘This essential work is being carried out as part of Shropshire Council’s commitment to investing in the county’s bridges. The condition of the bridge has been deteriorating in recent years and carrying out this refurbishment will enable the bridge to remain open in the long term. Every effort will be made to re-open the bridge as soon as reasonably possible, but I am pleased that it has been possible to arrange this ferry service to carry people across the river while the work is carried out.”
Andrew Bannerman, Shropshire Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, said:
‘‘Some people will be inconvenienced by the closure of this popular bridge. However many journeys are not much longer via the Welsh or Kingsland bridges and the ferry offers an attractive alternative.”
