By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Lady Bay Bridge will be repaired and reopened to traffic in both directions by the end of the school summer holidays, the county council has said.
The bridge has been closed since a lorry crashed off the road on July 4.
It was initially shut in both directions before one lane was reopened, for traffic leaving Nottingham, on July 11.
The council said it prioritised traffic exiting the city to ensure the “safety and security” of residents.
Now the authority has confirmed work is underway to repair the bridge and have cars flowing in both directions by the time schools return on August 31.
The council initially predicted the lane closure could last as long as 12 weeks but has now revealed what it describes as a “reasonable” reopening date.
Repairs will involve scaffolding being placed along the bridge to rebuild the parapet and the renewal of existing safety barriers.
The parapet – a low wall running along the edge of the bridge – will be replaced using materials consistent with its heritage.
Councillor Neil Clarke (Con), cabinet member for transport and environment on the council, says the work will make the bridge safe for traffic to flow in both directions.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We’ve started work and the scaffolding is here with specialist bridge contractors. My ambition is to have it open by the end of the school holidays.
“There is local historic interest, so it’s important the brickwork is right, with the right materials.
“The work is mainly the rebuilding of the brick parapet to make it safe, then the renewing of some of the safety barriers so it’s safe again for traffic to use in both directions.”
Cllr Clarke said the authority doesn’t yet know the overall cost of the repairs but confirmed they will be funded through an insurance claim.
Dan Maher, managing director of the council’s highways partner Via East Midlands, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The first part of the works is about remediation and making sure we’ve got the right types of material and infrastructure in place, ready to start the permanent repairs.
“In an ideal world, we want to get this work completed as soon as possible. The start of September is when we think is reasonable. If we better that then good. But that’s what we’re aiming for.
“It’s about minimising disruption and also making sure that, when we repair this, it stays repaired.
“It’s of significant historical importance so we need to make sure we do it right first time.”
The Lady Bay closure came almost two-and-a-half years after Clifton Bridge was forced to close for more than 600 days when cracks were found in its concrete structure.
The Clifton Bridge closures, which ended in October last year, caused months of traffic disruption across the city and county.
