THE construction of a temporary bridge at Pooley Bridge is ahead of schedule and it is due to be opened a week earlier than planned.
Cumbria County Council is optimistic the bridge could be opened to traffic and pedestrians by Sunday, March 20, in time for Easter.
Keith Little, the council's cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is great news and reflects a tremendous amount of work by council staff and our contractors Story Contracting, Mabey Bridge, Capita, Waitings Drainage and Mott McDonald.
"It was a very tight schedule, and there could still be setbacks, but to be a week ahead of where we expect is a real bonus. Getting a bridge back in place was critical for the village, and the wider Lake District, and especially important before visitors start arriving at Easter."
Work, which started in early February, has included the installment of a sheet pile cofferdam to allow safe construction, the construction of reinforced concrete abutments at the ends of the bridge and a gabion basket wall to support a new carriageway on one side.
The bridge will be a single road under traffic final control with a 1.5m path.
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