Last updated at 14:08, Thursday, 26 November 2009

The County Council has warned all communications could be lost in parts of Workington if Calva Bridge collapses.

A spokesman said land lines to 3,000 homes would go and the mobile network could become congested, leaving residents unable to dial 999 in an emergency.

The county’s top engineer has said that repairing the bridge is out of the question and that it will either collapse or have to be demolished.
Speaking at the banks of the River Derwent, just feet in front of the condemned bridge, Jim Smith, senior area engineer for Cumbria County Council, said that he could not give any indication of the time scale when the bridge will go, saying that it could be “today, tomorrow, or in several weeks’ time.”

And when the bridge, which has several cracks along it, does eventually give way it will cause chaos to those living in the area as it carried phone lines to thousands of homes north of the river. It could take several days for alternative lines to be installed.

The County Council said radio operators would go to community centres as a back-up and people would have to make their way to Faith House in Seaton, Camerton village hall and Northside community centre, where they would based, in order to contact emergency services.

Advice issued to residents last night said they should try using their own mobile and, if that fails, find someone on an alternative network. Should they still be unable to get through, they are asked to make their way to the community locations.

The spokesman said: “Emergency services are urging residents in Seaton and Camerton to consider personal contingency arrangements to ensure that, in the event of collapse, they are still able to make a 999 call.

“The mobile phone system should remain operational but may be congested and it is anticipated that it may take several days for British Telecom to install alternative lines. Residents are urged to make plans to help the elderly or vulnerable people in their community with these arrangements.”

Since the floods which happened six days ago, the bridge has dropped by more than 1ft.

Mr Smith said: “I expect repairing the bridge is out of the question and we have to look at all of the possibilities. My money would be on the fact that this bridge will either collapse or need to be demolished. The bridge foundations have washed away and that has resulted in it actually dropping.

“There’s a dip in the handrail and street lighting columns are leaning over by 15 to 20 degrees. On the masonry arches the keystone and the voussoirs on the arch have opened up showing some significant gaps which is common with movement in the bridge.” 

Mr Smith said that extra structural engineers from across the UK are helping the council inspect the bridges across the county and that every structure will have been inspected by the end of the week.

Eight bridges, including Calva Bridge and Northside Bridge, have been lost - three road bridges and five footbridges.
A further 20 bridges remain closed, but Mr Smith said engineers are working to restore them as soon as possible.

First published at 07:08, Thursday, 26 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk