Essential repair work to Waterloo Road bridge will start on Monday 3 July.

Work will take place to strengthen the existing structure and is expected to last for six weeks.



The maintenance work involves highway realignment over the bridge deck. This means that the width of the carriageway over the bridge will be reduced, which will then reduce the load on the edge beams under the footway.

Waterloo Road will be closed eastbound between Parkinson Way and Garden Terrace while the highway realignment works are undertaken. Eastbound traffic will be diverted along Lytham Road, Bloomfield Road and Central Drive. Seasiders Way will remain open at all times.

Once works have been completed, the carriageway will return to two-way traffic. The taxi rank and loading bay positioned on the bridge deck will be removed as a result of the highway realignment works.

The strengthening and maintenance scheme has been scheduled during summer as elements of the project can only be undertaken during warmer temperatures.

The four-span bridge is said to have been constructed in the early twentieth century and originally supported the road over railway tracks which led to the old Blackpool Central Station.

Cllr Fred Jackson, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for highways, said: “The bridge has become weaker than it used to be and it needs to be repaired to make sure it stays safe for road users and pedestrians.

“This work has to be carried out and we apologise in advance for any delays which may be caused on the roads while this work takes place.

“During the planning stage of the bridge repairs, we chose the option which will cause the least disruption to road users without the requirement of lengthy road closures and avoiding severe disruption to Waterloo Road and Seasiders Way.”

The maintenance work is expected to cost in the region of £300,000 and is part of a programme to repair ten Blackpool bridges during the next four years at a total cost of £11.365m. The money is made up by contributions from Blackpool Council, the Department for Transport’s Challenge Fund and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Fund.

All members of the public are asked to observe and obey all traffic management signs and directions, which are provided for the safe management of the works and for the safety of the public.