§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to warn the public about the closure of Sutton bridge on the A17; and whether he will make a statement about the number of times the bridge is to be closed in the future and their duration.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleySince refurbishment began in October 1987, advance notice of closures, one-way working, and height restrictions have been given by local weekly and daily press, on local television and radio, and in the motoring press. In the case of the complete closures over two weekends in April, publicity included details of alternative routes. These were also signed for motorists.
Two-way working across the bridge was restored on 22 May. It will be maintained throughout the summer months. An announcement will be made shortly.
It will be necessary to revert to one-way working in the autumn. Complete closures of the bridge from then until the end of the contract may again be needed from time to time. The public will be informed in advance.
In addition, the bridge is closed to road traffic from time to time to permit the passage of vessels to and from the port of Wishbech. These and other short closures associated with the bridge alterations cannot be predicted in advance. Every effort is made to keep inconvenience to motorists and the local public to a minimum.