THE iconic Transporter Bridge will reopen on traffic on Monday after £3m flood defence work.
The work was carried out on the Middlesbrough bridge by the Environment Agency and the road has been closed to road vehicles since Monday, June 8 although it has been open to pedestrians and cyclists.
About 350 homes and 32 businesses were at risk of flood and a 35-metre section of the road on the approach to the bridge in Port Clarence has been raised by around half a metre.
Other completed work on the Port Clarence scheme includes flood embankments to the east and west of the Wilton Engineering site.
Project Manager Chris Milburn said: “The road raising was a vital element of the overall scheme to reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses in Port Clarence.
“We’ve completed that aspect of the work and the Transporter Bridge is now open. We worked hard to keep disruption to a minimum and would like to thank residents for their patience.”
The Environment Agency began building defences at Port Clarence in March, with work expected to be complete in October.
The most recent impact of flooding in Port Clarence was in December 2013, when a tidal surge combined with high spring tides affected around 50 homes and businesses.
The £3m scheme is unusual because it includes a section of removable defence along the River Tees so local business Wilton Engineering is still able to operate from the river.
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