Closure of St Peters Bridge Burton

Anybody commuting into Burton by motorised means at the moment will be well aware that St Peters Bridge is currently closed and will be for 3 months in total.

A tranquil, traffic free St Peters Bridge.

The bridge carries traffic in and out of Burton via the A444 across the Trent Washlands via Stapenhill and is a vital artery in Burton's delicate traffic network.

Many of the bearings on the bridge which allow it to contract and expand are seizing up and need to be replaced otherwise the bridge will either have to have severe weight restrictions or face complete closure.  There has also been talk that the work may make the ill-conceived 3rd lane a possibility in the future.

Users were not given a lot of notice to make other plans.  Due to the funding process the grant awarded for the scheme needs to be spent within a certain time-frame so rather than more sensible measures like phasing the work over a longer time period or planning the works during the school holidays there has been a complete closure of the bridge forcing traffic over already busy alternative Burton Bridge or Walton bailey bridge.  Pedestrians are slightly less affected with the Stapenhill viaduct and Ferry Bridge being the alternative route.

The disappointing aspect from a sustainable travel point of view is that there was not a great deal of time to improve the cycling infrastructure or have a collaborative promotion of sustainable travel by the relevant authorities.

When initially reported it was stated that the reason for complete closure was due to the grant timeframe but more recently Staffordshire County Council have stated that the nature of the work means that the bridge can not be open even one-way through the works.

What is clear from the first few weeks is that businesses are struggling in Burton as people try alternative places such as Swadlincote, Ashby or Lichfield.  There will, no doubt, be discussions on compensation.  Bus companies have had to produce new timetables whilst emergency services have to plan around the closure.

The Stapenhill Viaduct is busier than normal though this
picture is from around 0730.

The positive side is that there are far more people using parts of the cycling infrastructure either by bike or on foot as reported in the Burton Mail although the article focuses mainly on walking but there has certainly been an increase in cyclists.

With the bridge closed, other than the sound of the works, the area is far more tranquil than usual!

With the extra amount of people on the Ferry Bridge and viaduct this does restrict the amount of space.  The cycle lane is already a narrow feature so care needs to be taken and there are some tips for those who are new to cycling and also for pedestrians.

• Although the cycle lane is clearly marked there is no legal right for cyclists over pedestrians and tolerance of other users is important!

• Cycle at a speed appropriate to the space available.  It is about the fine line between cycling assertively rather than aggressively.  Use the bell well in advance and slow down when near pedestrians, especially young children and those with dogs, whose movement can be unpredictable.

•  Remember that a lot of people have headphones on and are unable to hear cyclists approach (and this carries on into the town centre).  Pedestrians also have a habit of walking close to the cycle lane so ensure there is space to pass and let them know you are there.

• On windy days be aware that cross winds can have an effect on cyclists so give yourself more space when passing pedestrians.

• Don't build up too much speed at the Stapenhill end as there are paths crossing beyond the Kiosk shop and due to lack of footpaths up the Dingle pedestrians are likely to be in the road.

• Be courteous to other cyclists too especially when passing as one of you will have to give way and move out of the cycle lane.  My unwritten rule is to give way to those who have been on the bridge longer than you, and, of course, to ladies!

• The National Cycle Network is designed to be a leisure route as opposed to a fast commuter route so please bear this in mind.