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Tadcaster to be united again as flood-stricken bridge reopens Tadcaster united again as flood-stricken bridge reopens
(about 2 hours later)
A bridge in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, is to reopen more than a year after its partial collapse came to symbolise the destruction of the 2015 Christmas floods. A bridge in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, has reopened more than a year after its partial collapse came to symbolise the destruction of the 2015 Christmas floods.
The 18th-century Grade II-listed structure crumbled on 29 December 2015 after the River Wharfe rose to historic levels. The 18th-century Grade II-listed structure crumbled on 29 December 2015 after the river Wharfe rose to historic levels.
Its collapse came as flooding hit large parts of northern England, leaving many communities under several feet of water.Its collapse came as flooding hit large parts of northern England, leaving many communities under several feet of water.
The loss of the bridge, which had been closed due to safety concerns, left the North Yorkshire town divided, with residents and visitors having to negotiate a 10-mile detour to get from one side of the river to the other. The loss of the bridge, which had been closed to traffic due to safety concerns, left the North Yorkshire town divided, with residents and visitors having to negotiate a 10-mile detour to get from one side of the river to the other.
The division has strained businesses in the town. North Yorkshire county council said contractors worked around the clock to complete a job that should have taken two years in just over 12 months.The division has strained businesses in the town. North Yorkshire county council said contractors worked around the clock to complete a job that should have taken two years in just over 12 months.
The council warned motorists although the official reopening of the bridge was planned for 2pm on Friday, it would not be open for general traffic until after 3pm. On Friday, the town’s primary school children walked across the bridge en masse to mark the opening. One of them, Lydia Jackson, from St Joseph’s Catholic primary school, cut the ceremonial ribbon, flanked by the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, and the local Tory MP Nigel Adams.
“There is great anticipation in the town,” said Don Mackenzie, the council’s executive member for highways. “Its community has been literally cut in two for a year by the bridge’s collapse and people have been eagerly looking forward to the time when they will be reconnected. We thank them for the patience and fortitude they have shown throughout the year.“There is great anticipation in the town,” said Don Mackenzie, the council’s executive member for highways. “Its community has been literally cut in two for a year by the bridge’s collapse and people have been eagerly looking forward to the time when they will be reconnected. We thank them for the patience and fortitude they have shown throughout the year.
“I am very proud of the enormous effort made by our contractors, Balfour Beatty, and our bridges team to complete a very challenging project of this kind in little more than half the time it would normally take.”“I am very proud of the enormous effort made by our contractors, Balfour Beatty, and our bridges team to complete a very challenging project of this kind in little more than half the time it would normally take.”
The reconstruction, which has included a widening of the structure, has been funded with £3m from the government and £1.4m from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership.The reconstruction, which has included a widening of the structure, has been funded with £3m from the government and £1.4m from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership.
The reopening will be marked by a parade led by pupils from the town’s three primary schools. The reconstruction of the bridge will be further celebrated in April when Tadcaster hosts the start of the second day of the Tour de Yorkshire bike race.
North Yorkshire county council said during the peak of the 2015 storms more than 650 tonnes of water was hitting the bridge every second – the highest flow rate recorded in 30 years.North Yorkshire county council said during the peak of the 2015 storms more than 650 tonnes of water was hitting the bridge every second – the highest flow rate recorded in 30 years.
The Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, Greg Clark, was filmed walking across the bridge hours before its collapse.The Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, Greg Clark, was filmed walking across the bridge hours before its collapse.