Essential bridge works for Stamford

UPDATED: Essential bridge works for Stamford 07/07/2025

Essential bridge works for Stamford  18/06/2025

Cllr Michael Cheyne, executive member for Highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The remedial work required on the bridge is essential for the continuing use of what is one of Stamford’s most famous landmarks, and a critical part of the local traffic network.  

“Our expert team has carried out various surveys of the bridge to find out exactly what is needed. We have discovered that the bridge shows signs of water seepage which is the result of a failure of the existing waterproofing membrane.  

“To deal with this, we will have to remove the existing road surface and footpaths. A fresh waterproof membrane will then be laid on the exposed substrate. Once complete, we will put the footpaths back in and then lay the new road surface.  

“It’s a complex and necessary series of works to keep the bridge in a useable condition. Unfortunately, we are not able to engineer a work-around that would leave the traffic network open as it is whilst we deal with the issues on the bridge.”   

Pedestrian diversion routes

Location of works

The works will be carried out at Stamford Town Bridge on the A1175.  

Dates and times  

The works are planned to start at site on Monday 14 July and the expected time for completion is seven weeks. The works are expected to be completed by Monday 1 September.   

A road closure is required for the duration of the works with a diversion route in place throughout.    

Work times will be from 07.30 to 16.00.   

Diversion route

There will be a signed diversion route for vehicles and two diversion routes for pedestrians.  

The diversion route for vehicles will be:   

• High Street St. Martins(A1175)/Kettering Road(A1175)/A1/Tinwell Road(A6121)/West Street (A6121)/East Street (A6121)/Brazenose Ln (A1175)/St. Leonard’s Street (A1175)/Wharf Road (A1175) and vice versa.  

The diversion routes for pedestrians are:  

• Route one: St. Mary’s Hill/St. Mary’s St/Castle St/ Castle Dyke/Town Meadows/George Bridge/Wothorpe Road/Station Road/High Street/St. Martin’s and vice versa.  
• Route two: St. Mary’s Hill/Wharf Road/Albert Road/Albert Bridge/Water Street/High Street/St. Martin’s and vice versa.  

This is the diversion route for local traffic to use whilst the essential bridge works are being delivered

Note: LCC is allowing the George Hotel to carry out works on its gallows structures which span across the road during the period of our closure. As their works also require a road closure, we are allowing them to carry out their programme on two Sundays within our closure period to  ensure no additional delays in the future on the approach to the bridge. When the dates for the George Hotel’s works have been decided upon, local signage will be put up to let residents and road users know of the slight change to the diversion route around the gallows work. 

Here is the diversion map for when the additional part of the road outside the George Hotel is included:

This is the diversion route that will be used across two separate Sundays only to incorporate George Hotel works

Cllr Cheyne added: “These works will cost in the region of £200,000 to complete and are very important to the future of the bridge.

“We have been looking at every possible alternative to not have to close the bridge, but it can’t be done. The issue with us having to go ahead with these works this summer is that water ingress like this, if not arrested, can have serious structural, functional and safety consequences. Re-waterproofing will improve the safety to the road users, longevity of the historic structure, avoid unexpected future disruptions and reduce the maintenance costs in the long term.

“We are carrying out these works across the school summer holidays, as much as we are able to, to lessen the impact on the local traffic network. Likewise regarding the diversion route, we understand that many local residents will know of easier and more straightforward alternative routes to take in the area.

“We continue to do all that we can to deliver this listed structure set of work to a very high standard, and to lessen traffic impacts wherever possible.

“Whilst the disruption caused is regrettable, it is unavoidable as we deliver these vital works that will have a very large impact on the future of Stamford town bridge.”