Vital road bridges on Grimsby’s main gateway are to be repaired after £8 million was secured from government.
The two rail crossings and the Alexandra Dock-spanning section of the A180 have been found to be damaged, and the cash will ensure closures and weight restrictions - causing issues for industry and tourism - aren’t required.
Seafood wagons rolling out of the port and wider cold storage operations could have been hamstrung, with Cleethorpes also dependent on the arterial route.
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Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark announced the funding. He said: “The work to level up vital towns like Grimsby requires acting on what local people say is important and acting on what local people want - including local infrastructure.
“The funding we are announcing today will provide a vital lifeline for Grimsby’s industry now and in the future and I am looking forward to seeing how our investment is helping local communities to flourish and further unlock the area’s potential.”
Homes England is also assisting the local authority with plans to develop 129 homes on Garth Lane, to help revitalise the town centre.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I am delighted that our collaboration with government on the levelling up agenda is bearing fruit. The key infrastructure investment announced today, as well as our work with Homes England, focused on Garth Lane and wider town centre regeneration, are essential elements of our drive to deliver sustainable local economic growth for our residents, our communities and our businesses. I look forward to our collaboration with government continuing.”
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The A180 was constructed in the early Eighties, with the Alexandra Dock crossing one of the most technical elements. The construction completion is approaching 40 years.
On the Westgate section, west of it, a bridge spans a freight rail line and Gilbey Road, with the easterly section, Cleethorpe Road flyover, crossing the main Cleethorpes to Manchester line.
All are described as requiring "critical structural repairs", with the department stating that "further deterioration could cause closure or weight restrictions – severing Grimsby infrastructure and creating knock-on effects on the local and national economy".
Funding is subject to final business case being provided by the local authority, with North East Lincolnshire responsible for the upkeep. National Highways, responsible for the strategic road network, picks the baton up from the earlier South Humberside Industrial Estate junction.
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