A BRIDGE spanning a brook which flows through a residential area of Leicester will undergo much-needed repairs starting later this month.
The Averil Road Bridge, which carries the road of the same name over the Bushby Brook in Hamilton, needs extensive repairs and renovation work, which are due to begin on Monday, January 27.
Work will involve removing the section of road over the bridge and replacing the entire concrete bridge deck, which is in very poor condition. The brick parapets will also be removed, and concrete capping added to allow the new bridge deck to be installed.
The bridge deck will be manufactured offsite and lifted into place by crane in six pieces, before the bridge is waterproofed and new brick-clad parapets installed. Finally the road and pavements will be completed before the bridge can reopen to traffic and pedestrians.
Averil Road is a residential street, with houses on either side of the bridge and the brook itself. The road will close to through traffic for 11 weeks to allow the work to be carried out safely.
Temporary parking restrictions will be in place at either end of the bridge from time to time for deliveries and removal of building materials. There will also be some parking restrictions in force in nearby Elmcroft Avenue, for site cabins and storage of materials.
The work is expected to cost about £143,000 from the city council’s annual highways maintenance budget.
Director of City Highways at Leicester City Council, Martin Fletcher, said: “Works of this nature are needed from time to time to ensure that bridges remain safe and in good repair.
“Much of the bridge deck in this instance is old and in need of replacing, which unfortunately means closing that section of road to traffic to enable to work to be done.
“We apologise for any disruption caused to residents while it is taking place.”
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