Defective bridleway bridge set to be replaced this month

The wooden bridge over Church Lane in Uppermill - part of the Pennine Bridleway - had to be closed on safety grounds after defects were spotted in the structure

Oldham Council is set to replace a well-used bridleway bridge.

Back in May, 2020, the wooden bridge over Church Lane in Uppermill - part of the Pennine Bridleway - had to be closed on safety grounds after defects were spotted in the structure.

Work is due to begin on the morning of October 26 - after morning refuse collections have finished.

So the work can be carried quickly and safely, Church Road will be closed to pedestrians and all vehicles until October 29.

Diversions will be in place.

The new bridge will have steel beams which will be faced in timber and all other elements of the bridge will be timber.

The bridge will look like its ‘sister’ bridge at Station Road, Uppermill. 

Council officers have secured funding to pay towards the bridge cost - Natural England and the Pennine National Trails Partnership have granted £32,500.

The council will pay the remaining £37,500 out of its budget.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “I’m sure this new bridge will go down well with local residents and all those who use the bridleway.

“We appreciate removing the bridge caused issues, but we had no option and did it to protect the public.

“We’d have liked to have put it back in place earlier but due to the pandemic, the acquisition of materials has slowed-down off-site construction of the bridge.

“Until the work is complete, people can carry on using the temporary bridleway diversion we’ve put in place.”

Preparatory work at the site has already started, including the clearing of vegetation, improvements to the pathway and removal of the remnants of the old timber bridge.

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