A key arterial road in Kendal could re-open by the end of the week – although efforts by engineers could be scuppered by predicted heavy rainfall.

In a post on social media, Cumbria County Council (CCC) said it was “on track” to re-open Victoria Bridge – which carries the A6 across the River Kent – in time for the weekend after dive teams and bridge engineers placed 16 tonnes of grout bags around the bridge’s damaged pier.

However, it later warned that efforts to complete the work on the pier and a damaged abutment that would allow the bridge to re-open, were “at the mercy of the weather” with heavy rain forecast on Tuesday into Wednesday.

A further six to eight tonnes of grout bags will need to be placed, along with rock rolls (a robust and permanent supporting barrier) and 700 tonnes of rock armour to offer protection against the water.

Teams of contracts have been working 12-hour shifts during the last week to carry out the extensive repair works, said CCC, but the work requires dry weather conditions and low river levels.

in-Cumbria understands that, depending on the level of rainfall over the coming days, the re-opening of the 150-year-old bridge, originally damaged during Storm Desmond in 2015, may be put back until Monday.

CCC’s cabinet member for highways, Councillor Keith Little, said: “We do fully understand and sympathise with the frustration and disruption caused by this closure, particularly for local businesses. However, these works are essential to maintaining Victoria Bridge and ensuring it is safe to use by vehicles and pedestrians – public safety must always be our top priority. 

“I am grateful to the local community for their understanding and patience, and to the divers and contractors working around the clock to get the job done.  Please bear in mind that the teams working on site are carrying out a technical and complex project, which is dependent on clear and dry weather conditions and low river levels, whilst working in a challenging environment.”  

Victoria Bridge – commonly known as Batman Bridge due to the distinct markings on its sides – has been beset by structural problems since Storm Desmond and was closed in January 2016 for emergency work to be undertaken.

CCC, the Environment Agency and its contractor, Story Contracting Limited, had started £740,000-worth of structural work to secure the long-term of the bridge last month, but work halted last week after heavy rainfall caused the latest damage.

Business leaders and politicians blasted the council for the latest closure.

Julian Rayner, one of the owners of major employer Lakeland Limited, said it was “unbelievable and incompetent” that the bridge had not been sorted during the past four years.

Lakeland Limited drivers face a 30-mile detour to navigate the closure from its huge global distribution centre at Westmorland Business Park.

Kendal BID manager Sarah Williams said the closure and lack of plan B was putting the town’s economy in jeopardy with businesses based nearby, including Homebase, reporting a significant drop in footfall.

They, along with Westmorland and Lonsdale MP, Tim Farron, have all argued that the closure demonstrates the pressing need for a Kendal Northern Development Route

A norther relief road for Kendal has been debated and campaigned for more than 30 years. A route linking the A591 at the Plumgarths roundabout to Kendal’s industrial areas along the A6 Shap Road was agreed by county councillors in 2003 before the project fell by the wayside.

Recent progress has been made through lobbying, primarily by local MP Tim Farron. The Kendal Northern Development Route was included in the Transport for the North’s Strategic Plan launched earlier this year as one of a number of county road projects that could be delivered before 2050 if prioritised.

Meanwhile, the public have until Friday (August 2) to give their feedback on designs for the new Gooseholme Bridge after the original structure was severely damaged during Storm Desmond.

CCC has already apologies for the delay in bringing the project forward, which is set to cost between £500,000 to almost £2m depending on the agreed final design.

The key foot bridge helps to connect the popular Gooseholme with the A65 and on towards the town centre.