The repair of Queen’s Park Bridge has moved a step closer with the council appointing a specialist contractor to carry out the work.
Rochdale-based BDB Special Projects Ltd will lead the work to repair and strengthen the 136 metre long bridge, which connects Heywood with Rochdale and spans the River Roch.
The project will see £4 million invested into the bridge in Queen’s Park Road, which was first constructed in the early 1930s but is now showing signs of disrepair.
The 12-month project, which will get underway in January 2024, will see extensive concrete repairs to the structure beneath the road surface and replacement of the parapets.
Existing concrete barriers, which separate the pavement from the road, will be replaced with new kerbs, known as Trief kerbs, which are more attractive and place less weight onto the bridge, while still offering protection for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
Steel lighting columns, which were recently removed after falling into a state of disrepair, will be carefully recreated by specialists in their original green and gold colours, before being reinstated on the bridge.
Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways, said:
“Queen’s Park Bridge is a really important and well-used part of our highways network. It connects Heywood and Rochdale and has been a familiar sight for our residents for generations, particularly those who use it to access award-winning Queen’s Park.
“While it’s stood proud for almost a century, it’s now showing its age, so we’re stepping in to ensure it will be fit for another hundred years. As well as vital strengthening and repair work, contractors will be reinstating historic features like the lighting columns, and making the whole area more attractive.”
