End in sight for £58m 'bridge to nowhere' saga?

Warwickshire's so-called "bridge to nowhere" project will end up costing taxpayers in the county an estimated £58m as stalling continues - although the county council has said the saga's end is in sight.

The bridge deck on the A46 Stonleigh Junction has lay disconnected since 2023 after the project was brought to an abrupt stop due to difficulties with the design and accessing materials.

Originally estimated to cost £38m, the scheme was meant to help ease congestion.

Warwickshire County Council said work was "progressing well" and was on target to meet its expected completion date next summer.

Recent works on site included the completion of concrete pours for the four wing-walls immediately adjacent to the bridge, said the council, led by Reform UK.

It added more wall construction would be completed later this year to allow the link to the existing highway.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ben Edwards said while blame should not be put on the administration for overseeing the project, the responsibility was theirs to make sure things "don't grind to a halt".

Councillor Richard Dickson, also Liberal Democrat, echoed the comments and raised concerns members of the public would lose trust in the council's ability to manage large capital infrastructure projects at a time the county needed to build thousands of new houses.

He added: "If we can't get this one built on time and to a budget then how are people ever going to trust either the council or the councillors?"

In a statement, the county council said that the delays and the increase in costs were due to matters outside of its control but admitted that the unfinished scheme did not reflect well on the authority.

The main delays to the project have been put down to an "unforeseeable issue" sourcing some of the material required for the bridge, meaning a partial redesign to allow the use of other materials.

But developing the new design means an analysis of those materials and whether they meet National Highways requirements - the body which will ultimately take ownership of the bridge once completed.

The council's statement said: "We are committed to being transparent and will make all information publicly available when we are able.

"We are also committed to finishing the scheme as quickly as possible and bring its many benefits to the surrounding area.

"We have made excellent progress since getting back on site and are on track to complete it next summer."

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