An emergency closure of a bridge that links Devon and Cornwall has been announced. Gunnislake Newbridge will be closed from 9:30am-3:30pm today and on Thursday (11 April) for emergency work after a small hole was discovered in one of its piers.
Initial inspections have not raised any immediate structural concerns with the Grade One listed bridge. However, Devon County Council say it is crucial that action is taken promptly to fill the hole at water-level to protect the structure.
Engineers plan to use concrete filled sandbags to pack the void in the cutwater, subject to weather and water levels permitting. A reinforced 'deflector' will also be attached to the base of the pier to guard against further damage until a more permanent repair can be carried out this summer, when water levels are expected to be lower.
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The Grade II listed structure, near Callington, has been hit by debris carried by the swollen River Tamar during recent storms. While the bridge is closed, teams will also attempt to remove as many large trees as possible which have fallen into this section of the River Tamar. However, it's likely they will have to return during lower flows to complete this removal work.
Permanent repairs cannot be made to the bridge currently due to the high water level of the river. When undertaken, the repairs will be like for like, using lime mortar and, where possible, reusing existing stone.
Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's cabinet member for highways, said: "The ongoing wet weather is keeping river levels high with a lot of tree debris ending up in the water, and it's unfortunate that this has led to the bridge being damaged. This bridge was built circa 1520, with sections rebuilt in 1773, so it's important that we take this emergency action to protect it.
"This work can't be carried out without a closure and we're sorry that it will cause some inconvenience, but every effort will be made to reopen the bridge as soon as possible."
An official diversion will be in place via the A390 Callington, A388, B3362, A390 and vice versa.
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