Work to restore and strengthen Dayhole Bridge in the scenic Manifold Valley is progressing well.
The £650,000 project is being delivered by Staffordshire County Council and is expected to be completed in early October.
Originally built as part of a light railway providing access to the copper mines from 1904 to 1934, the bridge is now used by pedestrians, cyclists, local farmers, businesses and emergency vehicles.
Recent activity on site has seen the successful refurbishment of the original steel beams, which will support the new bridge deck. Once the new deck has been cast, the next phase of the project will see new parapet railings installed. An anti-slip surfacing will then be applied to the deck, ensuring safety for all users.
Peter Mason, Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“This is an important bridge in the Manifold Valley and is well used by the local community and thousands of visitors to the area.
“It’s a significant project and part of wider investment in maintaining and improving Staffordshire’s highways and structures, helping to keep communities connected and infrastructure resilient for the future.
“Teams are refurbishing the original beams and bearings that have been in place since before 1904, both preserving the past railway structure and saving on the significant costs of a new bridge. The old weak timber deck is being replaced with a reinforced concrete deck and will be able to carry up to 40-tonne vehicles, future proofing the bridge for the next 100 years-plus. The restoration also means the bridge structure will require significantly less maintenance in the future.”
Earlier in the scheme, work was temporarily paused to allow the safe removal of a bees’ nest discovered on site. Members of the North Staffordshire Beekeepers Association attended and undertook the delicate task.
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