Vital Chester bridge to close for 12 days

One of the two bridges over the River Dee in Chester is to close for almost two weeks next month. The Old Dee Bridge will close for ‘around’ 12 days so its traffic lights can be replaced, the council has said.

The bridge, between Lower Bridge Street and Handbridge, will close be closed from Monday, February 19. Cheshire West and Chester Council said the traffic lights have reached the end of their operational lifespan and are in urgent need of replacement.

While the bridge is closed, the footway and carriageway will be resurfaced. A diversion will be in place while the bridge is closed.

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The announcement comes as months of roadworks are announced between Huntington and Boughton. The works, lasting from this month to November, will allow a new pipeline to be laid.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, said: “As the Bridge is a scheduled monument, Historic England has been consulted about the works and provided scheduled monument consent to replace the existing traffic lights with low energy replacements, and for us to also undertake the resurfacing works.

“We are currently working with our Highways contractor to finalise the work program. There may be periods of time when the bridge will also be closed to cyclists and pedestrians.

The Old Dee Bridge

“If this is needed, times will be publicised in the coming weeks through our website and social media channels. Any impacts on the local road network will be kept to a minimum to avoid inconvenience caused by these essential works.”

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