Essential repairs to bring daytime closures of Jackfield footbridge

The Jackfield and Coalport Memorial Bridge will close for three days to allow contractors to carry out essential maintenance and repairs.

Timber used on the bridge has deteriorated and minor immediate repairs have already taken place to replace and strengthen the most damaged sections.

The footbridge will close on Monday, November 5, until Thursday, November 8.

It will remain open during early morning and mid-afternoon school-run hours, as well as overnight from 5pm until 8am the following morning.

The council say the repairs are a temporary measure so that the bridge can remain open while funding is found to replace all the timber.

Signage will be displayed in advance to advise on the closure.

The bridge, which spans The River Severn, was first built in 1922 as a memorial to those who died in the First World War.

Work to repair and restore the footbridge was last carried out in 2000.

Councillor Nicola Lowery, for the Ironbridge Gorge ward, said: “The Jackfield and Coalport Memorial Bridge symbolises an important part of our local history as it commemorates 26 men from Coalport and Jackfield.

“The bridge was previously restored and reinstated in 2000 and the remediation works are required to make the bridge safe for pedestrians until capital funding can be secured as part of a larger project to replace the timber surface.

“While the bridge itself is structurally sound, the council will need to replace all of the timber on the bridge and are working to secure the funding needed.”

It comes as work to restore the iconic Iron Bridge, also within the Gorge, is coming to an end.

The £3.6 million conservation project has seen the bridge return to its original colour, a rusty red/brown.

The project, by English Heritage, is the single largest conservation project undertaken by the charity since 2015.

The unveiling is set take place later this year, with a date yet to be confirmed for the grand opening.