HIGHWAYS chiefs have warned of “significant pressure” facing a Teesside council after leaders set aside an extra £2m for dozens of bridge inspections.

Middlesbrough Council maintains and repairs 106 bridges across the town – as well as 65 culverts, eight subways and underpasses, and 27 retaining walls.

A report to leaders revealed 100 structures need an inspection with five in need of “critical works”.

Officials also warned the authority was facing “significant pressure” to maintain its infrastructure – with a budget from the Government which didn’t reflect the demands it faced.

The council holds responsibility for a number of bridges on the A66 in the borough.

Executive members signed off an extra £2.1m of capital funding for the structures on Tuesday (December 22).

Cllr Dennis McCabe, executive member for the environment, told colleagues the remediation works would cost more than the block funding it received from the Government up to 2024.

Cllr Chris Hobson feared the town’s bridges hadn’t been examined for a number of years.

The executive member for finance said: “They are now absolutely desperate to be looked at before any further accidents or injuries happen.”

Officials warned not approving the use of extra cash would have a “major impact” on the road network – with “little resilience” in alternative town centre routes, costly future repairs and the possibility of “severe disruption” in the town.

Cllr Ashley Waters said the role the council played in structures on the A66 added to its funding problems – and asked whether they planned to go back to Highways England to request more cash.

Cllr McCabe said it was an oddity as Stockton’s bridges on the trunk road belonged to Highways England while Middlesbrough’s were in the council’s hands.

He revealed the authority was in negotiations with the body and the Government over responsibility for the sites.

But he warned it would be a long process.

“Until that happens we will need to maintain the A66 to a suitable standard,” added Cllr McCabe.