Ferrybridge Old Bridge Refurbishment

Ferry Bridge (referred also to as Ferrybridge Old Bridge) is a Grade I listed structure (Scheduled Monument) owned by Wakefield Council. The bridge is designated W0104 on the authority’s bridge register.

The bridge carries the Old Great North Road, formerly the A1, over the River Aire and lies on the boundary between Ferrybridge in the Wakefield Metropolitan District and Brotherton in North Yorkshire (Selby District Authority). The River Aire beneath the bridge is an operational waterway under the jurisdiction of the Canal and River Trust.

Following construction of the A1 Ferrybridge Bypass in 1966 the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic and has since been maintained for use by pedestrians. The highway is stopped up on the east side of the bridge and there are measures in place to prevent vehicular access of the west approach. The section of road within the Wakefield district boundary i.e. to the centre of river is adopted highway within the jurisdiction of Wakefield Council. The highway is discontinued at the west side of the bridge in North Yorkshire where there is a viaduct with approach embankments. The bypass that is carried on the structure to the east side of the bridge is now designated the A162 following re-routeing of the A1 in 2005.

The refurbishment works to the bridge and footbridge comprise: -

a) Removal of vegetation from the structure and general cleaning.
b) Removal of graffiti.
c) Raking out and repointing of all masonry elements.
d) Single repair in stonework to remove previous brickwork repair.
e) Re-kerbing in stone kerbs.
f) Reconstruction of the north footway in reclaimed stone paving
g) Reconstruction of the south footway in a combination of stone paving and bituminous materials coated in resin bound aggregate.
h) Planing and resurfacing the carriageway followed by coating in resin bound aggregate.
i) Modifications to grillages at the west flood arches.
j) Maintenance panting to collision protection on the waterway.
k) Maintenance painting to the grillages at the flood arches and railing to the adjacent north-west retaining wall.

All the works are to be monitored by Historic England in respect of the Scheduled Monument Consent required.

The work will also be overseen by a designated ecologist.