WORK to secure the long term future of Victoria Bridge in Kendal are scheduled to start next week.

Cumbria County Council will be delivering the £740,000 scheme as part of its Infrastructure Recovery Programme.

Following the damage to Victoria Bridge by Storm Desmond, the county council carried out emergency repair works in early January 2016, to maintain the structure while a permanent solution was developed.

A permanent solution is now proposed by constructing a concrete invert, or base, over the full width of the bridge to provide long term protection to the structure. The new invert constructed under the bridge, designed in partnership with the Environment Agency, provides an increased waterway area while minimising the long term environmental and visual impact. This will allow more water to flow under the bridge after periods of significant rainfall.

Cumbria County Council has worked closely with the Environment Agency and its contractor, Story Contracting Limited, to limit the impact on bridge traffic.

An access ramp for the works will be constructed down from the Sandes Avenue car park into the river, so no bridge closures are envisaged and traffic will continue to flow as normal during the works.

Sandes Avenue car park will be closed temporarily and the Beezon Fields road will be reduced to a single lane, with a priority to oncoming traffic system in place near the parking bays. A site compound will be set up in Beezon Fields (north of the skate park).

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for highways and Transport, said: “Victoria Bridge is a vital part of the road network in Kendal and it’s important these repair works are carried out to secure its long term future.”

Work will start during week June 24 and are scheduled to be completed by Autumn 2019, subject to weather conditions.