Wentbridge Viaduct: 'Final minor works' taking place as A1 Wentbridge Viaduct scheme reaches completion
Drivers using the A1, near Pontefract, can rejoice as the upgrade work taking place on Wentbridge Viaduct has been completed.
Work to repair Grade II-listed viaduct, which carries the A1 over the River Went, began in February 2023.
The bridge, which opened to traffic in 1961, was said to need “several essential repairs” in addition to its regular maintenance.
The waterproofing and maintenance project was originally meant to be completed in summer 2024, however the completion date kept being pushed back after further defects were discovered.
The £30 million project has led to numerous delays on the parts of A1 and the A1(M) for almost three years – with claims it had led to drivers “rat running” through local villages.
The various road closures and traffic management has caused “considerable delays” for drivers, with Matthew Morley, the council’s portfolio holder for planning and highways, even stating that it felt like the roadworks had “been going for decades.”
Now, National Highways have stated that they have completed some “final minor works”, following the reopening of the A1 last month.
The final road closures related to the project took place in January – meaning that no further lane closures are expected on both the northbound and southbound carriageway.
On the extensive project, National Highways said: “Sometimes it's not possible to know at the outset all the work we'll have to do. It was only when we started started work on the bridge that we could identify the extent of repairs we had to make.
"To keep people safe - we have to fix all the problems we find. The more work we do now, the less disruptive maintenance we have to do in future”