Eric Wright Civil Engineering has started preliminary work on the replacement of a 90-year-old bridge which spans the River Soar on the Leicestershire-Nottinghamshire border.
The deteriorating state of the existing bridge, on the edge of the village of Zouch, means it needs to be replaced on safety grounds as there is currently an 18-tonne weight restriction in place which prevents its use by HGVs.
Leicestershire County Council has set aside £19.5m to carry out the work, which will involve the new bridge being built parallel to the existing bridge and then manoeuvred into place on a re-aligned section of the A6006. Specialist contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering has been appointed to the project.
The existing structure will remain open while the new bridge is built to limit the disruption to motorists and other road users.
Diane Bourne, managing director of Eric Wright Civil Engineering, said: "We are looking forward to starting the works as soon as we are able and delivering this much-needed, improved link for the area.
"Our team has considerable experience in highways and infrastructure improvements, especially the design and installation of bridges and we are really pleased to have been appointed by Leicestershire County Council on this significant project for Leicestershire."
The initial phase of work involves the building of 'cofferdams' on both sides of the river. These will enable the safe construction of the bridge piers by creating a watertight enclosure built within this particular stretch of the Soar to allow water to be pumped out or drained to create a dry and safe working environment.
The work will then be temporarily suspended from the autumn until the following spring in order to eliminate the risks of working in a flood plain during the winter months, as well as to meet Environment Agency 'in-river' working restrictions intended to protect spawning sites.
Cllr Ozzy O'Shea, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The A6006 is a key east/west route across the county which provides a vital function, not least for business links to East Midlands Airport and Freeport developments.
"We've spent thousands of pounds on reactive repairs over the years and that's not sustainable given the condition of the bridge.
"We're working closely with our contractors to ensure that people are kept well informed about the progress of the project and to minimise any disruption to road users."
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