Engineers say pavement on Harborough bridge is 'below strength' - and want to install bollards

Bollards are to be put up at the side of a below-strength busy road bridge in Market Harborough to stop it becoming any weaker.

The emergency work is to be carried out on the 90-year-old bridge running over the River Welland on Welland Park Road.

The scheme is going ahead after engineers have found the pavement on either side of the structure between Coventry Road and Farndon Road to be “below strength”.

A Leicestershire County Council spokeswoman said: “During our usual highway inspections the team found the pavement of the bridge, which has the usual electric, gas main, etc, running under it, to be a bit below strength.

“To protect those sections of the bridge our plan is to install bollards so vehicles aren’t tempted to pull up on the pavement, weakening these sections further.”

She added: “The bridge is absolutely fine strength wise and we don’t want to alarm residents.

“It is just to protect the pavement of the bridge and the important utility services that run underneath it.”

Built in 1931, the county council is now working on setting up a schedule for the blueprint to be put into action on the bridge.

Drivers will face delays as temporary traffic lights will be set up to do the work and local residents will be told “well in advance”.