TEMPORARY traffic lights have been installed at Darnhall Bridge to protect the Grade II-listed structure.
Cheshire West and Chester Council has placed the traffic signals at the bridge to the south west of Winsford, and it is now operating as a single-lane bridge.
In November 2017 the council invested in 3D laser scanning during the first stage of improvement works on the bridge.
The council’s cabinet member for environment, Cllr Karen Shore, said: “Due to the deteriorated state of the bridge, it has been regularly monitored – these inspections have picked up some new cracks in the edges of the arch of the bridge.
"As a consequence, we have reduced this two-lane bridge to one lane with temporary traffic signals and water-filled barriers to channel the traffic safely down the centre of the bridge.
“We will continue to monitor the bridge whilst we develop the repair solutions.”
Timescales for the duration of the temporary signals and the refurbishment of the bridge are yet to be confirmed.
Historic England describes the bridge as late 18th or early 19th century.
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