The bridge that went wrong: Lincs project faces second 'error' delay

17/02/2025 | CHRIS AMES AND STEVE MENARY

The bridge that went wrong: Lincs project faces second 'error' delay

A £150m road being built for Lincolnshire County Council will be delayed again and see another cost increase, due to a second alleged error in the design of a bridge.

The bridge over the River Witham and the East Coast Main Line is part of the third phase of the Grantham Southern Relief Road being built by Galliford Try.

The highway authority said the project is now expected to be complete in 2026 following a design error related to the installation method of the bridge.

It said the ‘supplier error’ could add an extra £20m to the project, which is currently costed at £148m. This would take it to around double the original cost. 

The council said that on learning about the issue, it had demanded a solution and is seeking to recoup the additional costs.

Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said the error ‘related to the how the bridge was to be installed and us being told it couldn’t be pushed into place as intended due to concerns relating to specific wind conditions’.

He said: ‘The complexities of designing and constructing this relief road, particularly this bridge, are far beyond what we as a council can do directly.

‘That’s why top international engineering companies and experienced contractors were entrusted to handle the project. Although we oversee the scheme as a whole, we rely on our suppliers’ combined expertise.

‘When undertaking a project of the magnitude, all design work also undergoes a mandatory, additional layer of independent checking. Unfortunately, despite all of this, a mistake was made along the way that’s led to this new delay.’

Cllr Davies’ reference to a new delay reflects the fact that the completion of the project had already been put back from an earlier completion date of 2023 after what the council called an ‘unexpected engineering issue’.

In July 2022, it announced that the site team had identified a section of soft, unstable ground where the new bridge was being built, which would require increasing the length of the bridge to avoid the unstable ground.

At that time, Cllr Davies said the council was working with bridge designer WSP ‘to determine the cause of this issue and why it wasn't accounted for when WSP designed the foundations for the bridge’.

He said at that time: ‘The co-ordination of the ground investigation information and the subsequent design of the bridge was and is the responsibility of the bridge designer, WSP.’

In November 2002, Cllr Davies was ‘happy to update that we’re now well underway with installing the first three of six new bridge piers that are part of the structure’s redesign’.

The £3.5km relief road was priced at £81.5m in 2018, with phase 3 estimated to cost around £44m but a year later the projected cost had risen by 25% to £102m.

WSP has been approached for comment. 

Image credit: Lincs CC

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Director of Transport

£112,924
East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is on a bold journey. East Midlands Region
Recruiter: East Midlands Combined County Authority

Ferry Host - WMF3049i

£25,584 - £25,992
Ferry Host - WMF3049i Windermere, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Director of Streetscene

£94,972 - £108,767
We continue to have big ambitions for our borough Fareham, Hampshire
Recruiter: Fareham Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Urban Traffic Control (UTC)

£44,711 - £49,764
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities. Liverpool, Merseyside
Recruiter: Liverpool City Council

Roadworker/Driver

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Chargehand (2 Posts)

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We’re looking for experienced Project Chargehands to be part of the Highways Construction Services team Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Lawyer 2- Planning and Highways

£49,764 - £54,181
We are looking for a fresh thinking and enthusiastic Planning and Highways Lawyer Hereford, Herefordshire
Recruiter: Herefordshire Council

Development Engineer

£35,967 - £41,268 per annum
Are you ready to play a key role in shaping and safeguarding the future of our highways and public spaces? Bexley (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Bexley

Professional Services Partnering Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Professional Services Partnering Manager to lead the strategic management Darley Dale, Matlock
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technical Supervision Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We are looking for an experienced and driven Technical Supervision Manager to lead our technical supervision teams within the Highways Service. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Street Lighting Electrician (CDC)

Grade 8, £32,662 - £36,239 (pay award pending)
Highways Operations is a growing service area within the Place directorate. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Assistant Engineer WMF2133e

£39,513 to £40,476
We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to work within the challenging and ever-changing landscape. Penrith, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Inspector/NRSWA

£36,345 - £40,344
We are looking for an organised and self-motivated individual to join our Streetworks Team based in Hackney Central. Hackney, London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Hackney Council

Structures Commissioner

Grade 14 £53,166 - £59,080 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our team as the Structures Commissioner. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader Network Co-ordination

£51,429 - £58,140
As Team Leader for Network Coordination, you’ll manage a team that oversees all works and events on our public highways. Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater)
Recruiter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recruiter: Hull City Council

Principal Transport Planner

£45,718 to £49,764
Do you have considerable experience in the transport strategy and policy, and are you looking for your next career development opportunity? Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Sheffield City Council

Project Lead - Bridges and Structures WMF3037e

£45,718 to £46,731
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW