Whitby's swing bridge to close for maintenance next week

The planned works are an essential upgrade of the control system panels which bridge operators use to swing the bridge open and shut, and are part of an ongoing programme which has seen £400,000 invested in recent years. The crossing will be shut to vehicles and pedestrians from 6am on Monday until 6am on Wednesday, and a free shuttle bus service will be operating.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways, Coun Don Mackenzie, said: “Whitby Swing Bridge is an historic, finely-balanced, mechanical-moving structure and its reliability has been significantly improved by the county council’s £400,000 upgrading programme in recent years.

“The county council therefore has to take every precaution to maintain its reliability and keep it in good working order for the town and its thriving tourist industry. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this closure will cause but we have programmed the works outside the peak holiday season when hopefully there will be minimum disruption.”

The swing bridge has been blighted by a series of mechanical failures in recent years. In the worst instance, the bridge was stuck open for nine days in the summer of 2010, with the eastern side of the town isolated from crowds of visitors on the western half.