Flintshire Bridge to close for five days from today for for ‘essential works’

The A548 across Flintshire Bridge will close for five days from today, June 5.

Closures are planned to take place between Monday and Friday and will be in effect from 8 am to 6 pm each day. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The reason for the closure is to carry out a principal inspection of the bridge cables and tower. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This inspection is integral to ensuring the long-term safety and usability of the bridge. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council has said: “To allow for essential works, the Flintshire Bridge will be closed, in both directions, between the hours of 8am and 6pm for five days beginning Monday 5 June and ending on Friday 9 June 2023.”

“Westbound traffic will be diverted at the Phase 4 Roundabout Deeside Industrial Park, and Eastbound traffic from the Kelsterton Road on-slip.”

“Alternative routes will be clearly signed during the closure period.”

“Please plan your journeys in advance to avoid unnecessary delays. ”

To allow for essential works, the Flintshire Bridge will be closed, in both directions, between the hours of 8am & 6pm for five days beginning Mon 5 June and ending Fri 9 June 2023

Please plan your journeys in advance to avoid unnecessary delays. https://t.co/IeR5kgp39b pic.twitter.com/1Ba8mDrish

— Flintshire Council (@FlintshireCC) June 4, 2023

New Bridge ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Bridge, the ‘New Bridge’ or the ‘Bridge to Nowhere” is an asymmetric cable-stayed bridge spanning the River Dee in Deeside. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Work on the bridge began in 1994 and was completed in 1997 at a total cost of £55m. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The 965 ft long bridge carries the A548 linking Flint and Connah’s Quay to the shore north of the River Dee at the southern end of the Wirral Peninsula, it reaches an impressive 387ft into the air. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The bridge was designed by the Percy Thomas Partnership, an award-winning British architectural practice which designed a number of landmark buildings in the UK including the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It was paid for by the Welsh Office with maintenance costs later picked up by Flintshire County Council. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

According to traffic data the bridge carries around 13,000 vehicles daily . ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​