WORK to refurbish a busy crossing into a Cheshire town is expected to begin in April 2023.

Concerns continue to be raised over the state of Warrington's three swing bridges crossing the Manchester Ship Canal – which are situated on Chester Road, London Road and Knutsford Road. Peel Ports owns the bridges.

Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, Peel and Warrington Borough Council had been assessing a range of options – including the possibility of keeping one lane open during the works on the first bridge, Stockton Heath, as well as doing work overnight and putting in road closures outside of peak hours.

As reported in March, the works will involve a complete structural, mechanical, electrical refurbishment and repainting programme to improve the longevity of the site.

The council and Peel Ports have been working together to develop a mitigation and logistics plan which will help prepare and inform the community, for the social, transport, environmental and economic implications of the work.

This will include a focus on maintaining normal movement of traffic and minimising disruption to people in Warrington as much as possible.

The council has been asked a number of questions on the issue – including when the council expects work on the first bridge to begin and how long it will take to complete, whether the site will be completely shut while the work takes place, if there will be any free bus services for people who usually walk across the site to get to where they need, and whether changes to normal bus services which would normally cross the bridge have been finalised.

The council has provided a short statement.

A spokesman said: “There are ongoing discussions with Peel Ports who are responsible for the works – which are scheduled to start in April 2023 – and there will be an update on this in the new year.”