The Cross Keys Bridge is to close overnight on Monday as the final round of maintenance works take place.
The lifting jacks at the A17’s crossing over the River Nene at Sutton Bridge will be replaced, which Lincolnshire County Council say is the last of four scheduled closures.
The road will be closed from 7pm to 6am on Tuesday.
Assistant director for Highways at Lincolnshire County Council, Karen Cassar, said: “The hydraulic lifting jacks are fundamental to the operation of the iconic, working swing bridge. Over the course of time, they naturally wear out and require maintenance so that they keep operating. The four jacks in situ were identified as faulty and in need of urgent attention.
“Expert teams have been going through the jack-by-jack process of carrying out four separate maintenance schemes, each of which has involved a night-time closure of the bridge for one-night at a time.
“The crew will be removing and servicing the final hydraulic jack which will then be replaced with a serviced jack that has been refurbished and re-sealed.”
As usual when the road is closed, the diversion is a long one taking in the A47, B198 and A1101 in Wisbech.
“The work is being carried out using single night closures to minimize disruption on the highway network,” Ms Cassar said. “In order to access these critical parts of the bridge, the bridge itself needs to be partly swung open to enable our team to get access.
“Because of this, we have no other option than to close the road whilst the works are undertaken. The timing of the overnight road closures will be from 7pm until 6am to avoid peak travel times so as to minimise disruption on the highway network as much as possible during this critical work.
“I would like to thank everyone effected for their patience and understanding whilst we are fitting this last jack to the bridge.”
