Final bridge span to now arrive in Lowestoft at later date

As construction of the £145m Gull Wing bridge in Lowestoft continues, the main bascule bridge span was due to arrive this month.

The Gull Wing Bridge in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

However, while this has now been delayed until the end of February or early March, Suffolk County Council said they were "still hoping everything will be completed ready for the summer" for the opening of the town's long awaited third crossing.

When the bridge opens in 2024 it will provide an essential link from Waveney Drive (south) to Denmark Road and Peto Way (north) of Lake Lothing in Lowestoft.

Good progress continues to be made to the Gull Wing bridge in Lowestoft. Picture: Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)

As leading building and civil engineering contractor Farrans Construction oversees construction works on behalf of the county council, "good progress" continues to be made.

A Suffolk County Council spokesman said: "In order to complete the testing and pre-commissioning of the hydraulic, electrical and mechanical systems, the temporary suspension of navigation in Lake Lothing for the installation of the bascule span is now expected to commence in late February / early March 2024."

With an exact date still to be confirmed, the spokesman added: "The reason is to allow a few more weeks to complete the pre-commissioning and testing work before the bascule span’s arrival."

Good progress continues to be made on the Gull Wing bridge in Lowestoft. Picture: Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)

Following an official 'ground breaking' ceremony for the project in March 2021, construction of the bridge started in the spring of that year.

A date for the official opening of the bridge - whose total cost was predicted as £145.8million back in 2021 - has yet to be set.

However, the council spokesman added: "We’re still hoping everything will be completed ready for the summer."

As work continues on the Bascule section of the bridge in Westdorpe in the Netherlands, the span will eventually arrive by sea from the Netherlands and enter Lake Lothing through the existing bascule bridge, before being rotated and positioned into place.

The council spokesman added that "the most complex and challenging part of the project – the bascule span installation – is still to come."

'Challenges are to be expected'

Simon Bretherton, Suffolk County Council project director, said: "The installation of the main bascule span is the last significant milestone in the delivery of the Gull Wing bridge, and it is imperative that we take the time to complete the pre-commissioning and testing work to ensure that everything will be fully operational when the lake reopens to marine traffic.

Simon Bretherton, Suffolk County Council project director, at the Gull Wing bridge in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"Challenges are to be expected with significant and complex infrastructure projects of this kind, especially for the commissioning of the hydraulic, electrical and mechanical systems that form part of the unique opening bascule section.

"We continue to work with our contractor, Farrans, to deliver Lowestoft's historic third crossing, which will serve the town for many decades to come."