North Northallerton bridge explained

North Northallerton bridge
Os Grid Reference:SE367953
Refs:[1]
Crosses:Northallerton–Eaglescliffe railway line
Brompton Beck
Locale:Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England
Other Name:North Beck bridge
Northallerton link bridge
Material:Weathered steel
Number Spans:3
Begin:July 2020
Cost:£7.6 million (2022)
Opening:December 2022 (projected)

The North Northallerton bridge is a road bridge straddling the Northallerton–Eaglescliffe railway line in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England. The bridge is on a link road connecting the A167 in the west, and the A684 in the east and in part, is intended to provide relief for the congestion caused in Northallerton due to the many level crossings which hold up road traffic. The link road runs through a set of new housing estates between Northallerton and Brompton, and has been beset by delays, originally intended for opening in late 2021, it was opened on 16 December 2022.

History

The bridge was granted approval in 2015, though objections to the whole project, including the two housing estates, saw a delay in final approvals until 2016. Work was due to start in April 2017, with an original opening date of 2019.[2] However, it was only in July 2020 that work was actually initiated, with a revised opening timeline of late 2021 for its opening.[3] The bridge and link road were approved to provide relief from congestion in Northallerton town due to the railway lines in the town having several level crossings which lead to traffic tailbacks, especially at Low Gates, a crossing guarding the A167 to Darlington.[4] [5] The bridge is part of a link road through two housing estates (which will consist of 900 dwellings), which has been jointly developed by Persimmon and Taylor-Wimpey.[6] The two housing estates are separated by a railway line, and a stream.[7] The decision to locate the bridge at the point where the stream and the railway are adjacent to each other was taken to lower the cost of the bridge, and so it could have a shorter span.

The Bridge straddles both the Northallerton to Eaglescliffe railway line and Brompton Beck/North Beck,[8] and provides a link between the A167 to Darlington (Darlington Road), and the A684 (Stokesley Road) to the A19 trunk road.[4] [9] The construction has been beset by delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also that an incorrect membrane had been laid under tarmac, which then had to be all ripped up and started again.[10]

The bridge was opened on 16 December 2022.[1] [11]

Details

The three-span bridge is long (the entire link road stretches for), and is above ground level, with 25m (82feet) deep piles.[12] [13] The steel beams of the bridge are long and weigh each.[9] With preparatory works completed, the bridge was lowered into position in September 2021.[14] The cost of the whole link road is £12 million, with £7.6 million being spent on the bridge alone.[4]

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Chapman . Hannah . Date finally announced for opening of link road . Darlington & Stockton Times . 2022-47 . 25 November 2022 . 1. 2516-5348.
  2. News: Minting . Stuart . Drivers waiting for new £12m road to open in Northallerton face indefinite delay . 16 September 2022 . The Yorkshire Post . 24 March 2022.
  3. News: Gleeson . Janet . Hopes delayed link road will open within weeks . Darlington & Stockton Times . 2022-43 . 28 October 2022 . 3. 2516-5348.
  4. News: Minting . Stuart . Building firm 'dragging its feet' on opening bridge and bypass . The Yorkshire Post . 7 September 2022 . 8. 0963-1496.
  5. News: Minting . Stuart . Frustration mounts at bridge opening delays . Darlington & Stockton Times . 2022-36 . 9 September 2022 . 7. 2516-5348.
  6. News: Gleeson . Janet . Concerns new link road could take months to open . Darlington & Stockton Times . 2022-37 . 16 September 2022 . 18. 2516-5348.
  7. News: Eric Wright Civil Engineering start on site with north Northallerton link road and over bridge . 20 September 2022 . Eric Wright Group . 11 August 2020.
  8. News: Chapman . Hannah . Spectator's Notes: Bridge too far for Northallerton. Darlington & Stockton Times . 2022-36 . 9 September 2022 . 20. 2516-5348.
  9. News: Price . Kelley . Huge bridge beams hoisted into place for link road . 20 September 2022 . Teesside Live . 27 September 2021.
  10. News: Minting . Stuart . Frustration over £12m bridge opening delays . 30 October 2022 . York Press . 9 July 2022.
  11. News: Long awaited Northallerton link road and bridge opens . 17 December 2022 . BBC News . 16 December 2022.
  12. News: Minting . Stuart . HGVs will no longer have to travel through Northallerton as new bridge and road opens . 30 October 2022 . The Yorkshire Post . 17 November 2021.
  13. Web site: North Beck Bridge, Northallerton . ericwright.co.uk . 16 September 2022.
  14. News: Oldfield . Alison . Northallerton bridge lowered into place . 30 October 2022 . Hambleton District Council . 27 September 2021.