Bailey Bridge Closure

Published: 21 October 2026

I’m getting in touch to make you aware of an unplanned road closure at The Bailey Bridge (also known as Walton Bridge) following a vehicle collision.

A vehicle has struck the bridge, causing a safety barrier to become misaligned. As the bridge is a particularly narrow structure, measuring approximately 7ft 6in wide, and was originally intended constructed as a temporary bridge in 1974, we are taking necessary precautions to ensure public safety.

The road has been closed while the bridge undergoes an external structural inspection to determine whether any damage has affected its integrity and whether it remains safe for use.

At this stage, it is too early to confirm how long the closure will be in place. If the damage is only to the safety barrier, the issue will likely be resolved within a week. If the inspections show further structural repairs are required, there is a possibility that the closure could remain in place for up to a month.

Our Structures Team is currently investigating suitable diversion routes for the closure, considering other road closures and traffic management arrangements in the area. We will confirm the signed diversion route once an appropriate route has been identified.

We appreciate that this will cause disruption for local residents and road users. We will provide further updates as soon as the inspection has been completed and the extent of any required works is known.

I hope you find this information useful to inform you and your constituents about the scale and breadth of work we are undertaking.

Best regards,

Dec

Declan Kitts

Engagement and Customer Support Officer | Highways Commissioning | Place