Express & Star

Further delays to opening of £3m bridge

The reopening of a £3million bridge being built as part of the multi-million pound electrification of a train line has been hit by further delays, it was announced today.

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Motorists will face at least another week of delays on roads around Broad Lane, between Bloxwich and Essington.

The bridge is closed while work is carried out for the £30million electrification of the Chase Line.

Residents and drivers had expected the bridge to reopen at the end of last week after a sign was put up at the scene.

But it has now emerged that the work is delayed by another week - with bad weather blamed for the delay.

The closure has been having a big impact on roads around the bridge, with long queues of traffic backing up around Essington.

Heavy traffic has hit the village at peak times in Broad Lane and Long Lane.

The bridge closed in November and work was initially due to continue to the end of March.

It was then pushed back to May before a sign emerged at the site saying it would open on June 6.

Not it has emerged the final stage of work is still awaiting completion.

A spokesman for Network Rail said the further delay was 'regrettable'.

"Regrettably, the final stages of work to complete the new bridge at Broad Lane have been further delayed because of the recent wet weather," he said.

"The finishing work to the structure is critical and weather dependent and has to be completed during dry spells.

"Weather permitting, we hope to complete and reopen the bridge by the weekend of June 14 and 15."

Councillor David Clifft today said: "This is disappointing news as this is now three times the opening date on this has been missed.

"It was publicised that it would be reopening on June 6 so a lot of residents and drivers will be very disappointed to hear this."

He said motorists were being forced to go miles out of their way and traffic was building up on roads through Essington.

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