READING Borough Council has announced that vital repair works are set to begin on bridge in Reading.
High Bridge on Duke Street is in need of work to restore the parapets, which have been deteriorating.
The bridge is Grade II listed and will form part of a £4 million investment in bridge upkeep around Reading.
Work is due to begin on Tuesday, July 9, and will last for 17 weeks.
Temporary scaffolding will be erected around the bridge and a single lane closure will be in place.
Traffic will be allowed through with the help of temporary lights, as road over the bridge deals with vehicles, bikes, and public transport.
The bridge will be fully closed between July 9-12, August 30 until September 5, and from October 24-29.
It forms part of a two-year investment in Reading’s bridges by the council, which will also see the Kings Meadow footbridge replaced, refurbishment of the Orbit footbridge behind Queens Road Car Park, and the strengthening of parts of the Kennetside retaining wall.
Chris Wheeler, assistant director for Environmental and Commercial Services at Reading Borough Council, said: “Resident safety is paramount, and High Bridge’s ancient pedestrian walls, or parapets, have deteriorated to the point where action must be taken to repair them.
“The Grade II listed bridge was built in 1787 of Portland stone to replace an earlier bridge, which allowed traffic from the road network to the south direct access to the “new” Market Place established closer to the Abbey.
“Maintaining that history is critically important for our town as it is a key landmark of our past.
“This work is part of an ongoing programme to keep Reading’s bridges and structures in good condition, which will also see the Orbit Footbridge refurbished this year along with the current work to replace the King’s Meadow footbridge.
There will be some short-term inconvenience, which we apologise for, but we hope residents agree it is worth it to keep an important crossing point safe and preserved.”
