A new bridge in South Staffordshire has opened to traffic, with an increased flow capacity below the structure to reduce flood risk.
The location of the bridge over Pothooks Brook in the village of Dunston can flood after heavy rain and Staffordshire County Council decided that a whole replacement was needed as it could not strengthen the existing structure without restricting the brook’s flow.
Now a new reinforced concrete structure is in place, clad with brick to suit its surroundings, reducing the need for maintenance and reducing the thickness of the bridge deck.
Both the county council’s highways and flood protection teams carried out the scheme, which was funded by the council and Defra at a cost of around £400,000.
Mark Sutton with main designer Mark Spence
Mark Deaville, cabinet member for strategic highways, said: ‘Construction of this new bridge at Dunston has been a fantastic achievement and will bring long-term benefits to future generations. It has taken a considerable amount of careful planning followed by a methodical construction phase.
‘Due to the complex nature of the scheme, it has taken a longer period than a traditional highways job and so we’d like to thank people for their patience.’
Local county councillor Mark Sutton said: 'As local county councillor, I’ve visited the project site on numerous occasions as it has progressed and been impressed with the commitment by the team in ensuring work has been done to the highest standard.
‘This has involved significantly increasing the flow capacity underneath the bridge, which will help to reduce future flood risk, which has been a huge concern to nearby residents.’
