As Corporation Bridge nears its three year anniversary closure next month, let’s take a look at some other engineering feats pulled off in less time.
Over in France, one of the most recognisable structures on the planet, the Eiffel Tower, was constructed in just 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days.
In London, more modern and amazing feats of engineering have been carried out in a shorter duration than Corporation Bridge’s renewal.
The 2012 Olympic Stadium, which spans more than 100,000m², was built in just under three years, with construction running from May 2008 to March 2011.
Locally, other councils have managed to greatly improve their area’s transport links, such as Lincoln’s Transport Hub, including the 14-stand bus depot, a pedestrian plaza, and a 1000-bay multi-storey car park, which began construction in 2016 and finished in 2018.
Corporation Bridge’s restoration work, which aimed initially to repair and rejuvenate the Grade II listed bridge, has far exceeded its initial timeline of 11 months and the £5 million budget, and has drawn criticism from councillors, businesses and motorists. By the time it is completed it will have taken almost four years and is expected to cost in excess of £12 million. To date, nobody has been formally reprimanded or held accountable for the delays and cost escalations.
Speaking to Gi Grimsby News previously, Independent Councillor Steve Holland said: “We were told in February of 2023 that the job would take 11 months and the Bridge would re-open to traffic before Christmas. It now looks like the job will take the best part of 4 years, and the costs are still zooming upwards.”
Independent Councillor Paul Henderson added: “When we look at the money side, the Council has put a ‘temporary’ increase in the budget in place – well above the existing £12.5m already committed.
“They are clearly anticipating millions of pounds to be refunded that has already been spent on work done to date due to quality issues in order to balance the books. That is a very risky strategy. This administration has an uncanny knack to be able to keep digging an already deep hole.”
The project is predicted to finish by December this year, according to North East Lincolnshire Council’s latest update.
Reporter.
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2024.