Beeding Bridge to be closed for major repair works

West Sussex County Council will be carrying out the refurbishment on the Upper Beeding bridge on Monday January 20. It is expected to take up to five weeks.

Following a routine safety check, the council found the bridge needed strengthening so buses and heavy vehicles can continue to cross it safely.

The council said if the work is not carried out it ‘would be forced to put weight restrictions on the bridge or, if deterioration was to continue, shut it completely.’

A county council spokesperson said: “The footbridge adjacent to Beeding Bridge will remain open so pedestrians can still cross.

“A signed diversion is being put in place for motorists along the A283 between Upper Beeding and Steyning.

County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Pieter Montyn said: “This is a task which has to be done.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause while the bridge is closed.

“We feel it is much more preferable to shut it for five weeks while works take place, rather than allowing it to deteriorate and cause greater disruption in the long term.”

David Barling, county councillor for Bramber Castle, said: “I’ll be continuing to monitor this as work progresses, with the obvious intention of trying to speed them up as far as humanly possible,”

Residents were invited to a drop-in session yesterday (Wednesday, January 15) at the Old Tollgate Hotel in Bramber, where officers from the council and contractor Balfour Beatty were on hand to answer questions.

In 2009, the bridge was closed for repairs due to wear to the fabric of the bricks.

For details on bus diversions visit www.thesussexbus.com/service/SH1-SH2/