Residents Describe Bridge Lane Closure as a “Nightmare”

Traffic congestion in a local town has been characterized as a “nightmare” by residents, who “fear the worst” if the partial closure of a £32 million bridge is not reversed. The King’s Dyke bridge, which links Peterborough and Whittlesey over the Peterborough-Ely railway line, was inaugurated in 2022 with the intention of alleviating traffic issues caused by a level crossing. However, in June, two years after its opening, the bridge was partially closed following the discovery of cracks in its westbound carriageway. Cambridgeshire County Council confirmed that the emergency lane closure and temporary traffic lights on the bridge would remain in effect while investigations are conducted. This bridge, also known as the Ralph Butcher Causeway, was named in honor of a former Fenland district councillor who championed its construction in the 1970s. Phil Slinger, a resident of Whittlesey, expressed his belief that the bridge was “built in the wrong place” from the outset, while Bob Athow suggested it was “sinking.” Mr. Slinger, 71, stated: “It is a pain to get around Whittlesey, especially in rush hour.” Peter Vincent commented: “It’s an absolute nightmare to go to Peterborough or to come from there. It should be a 15-minute journey but it’s now 45/50 minutes now.” Clive Vaughan, residing on Peterborough Road, emphasized the bridge’s crucial role for drivers in Whittlesey. “There’s potential that bridge could be shut and, if it does, it will kill Whittlesey. We only have a few B roads to access Peterborough, and they are awful.” He added: “We find infuriating that politicians are not getting contingency plans in place.” Vaughan concluded: “We fear the worst. Nobody seems to be doing anything or telling us what is going on.” Chris Boden, a Conservative councillor on Cambridgeshire County Council, labeled the situation “frustrating” and asserted that the community was being “kept in the dark.” “We do not know what the prognosis is for the bridge.” He further explained: “A lot of work has been done in the last 10 days on the bridge, measurements are being taken, lots of digging. But we as the community are not getting any feedback.” Boden also noted: “When the bridge was planned, three options were given and the current location was chosen by the people of Whittlesey after public consultations.” He advised: “Speculating about the cause of the problem is pointless. We should wait for the county council to give us the investigation results.” Cambridgeshire County Council offered an apology for the inconvenience and stated: “The results of these ongoing investigations will inform our next steps.” Updates on Peterborough news are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is accessible.