Telford Footbridge lift postponed due to unpredictable wind speeds
The final lift of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Telford footbridge project is due to take overnight Sunday/Monday after the scheduled lift was postponed due to unpredictable wind speeds.
After successful initial safety tests were carried out, windspeeds began to reach the advised safe limits for lifting the 230 tonne bridgeand considering the conditions the team reluctantly
took the decision to postpone the lift until tonight whenweather conditions are forecast to be more favourable.
Dominic Proud, Highways manager for Telford& Wrekin Council, said: “Unfortunately the situation became too risky and Iam sure that people will appreciate that safety is our first priority and wehave rescheduled the lift for Sunday night.
“The wind speed was on the cusp of the safelimit and the gusts became stronger and more frequent as the eveningprogressed. We kept assessing the situation but conditions made itimpossible.
“We will try again this evening and asconditions currently look to be calmer.
“Thanks to everyone who turned out to supportthe project, it was a chilly night so we were impressed with those residents’enthusiasm who hung on to the last moment.
The lift can only take place late at nightwhen trains are not running.
Once the bridge is in place, the team’s firstpriority is to dismantle the crane to get the roads open as soon aspossible.
Updates will be posted on Facebook and Twitter@TelfordWrekin
