Irvine’s old Bailey Bridge could save lives

Nov 27 2009 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

IRVINE’S old Bailey Bridge could be used to offer a lifeline to communities in Cumbria who have been cut off due to this week’s floods.

The people of Cumbria have been marooned as bridges have collapsed during the flooding.

The water has swept away six bridges and forced five others to be shut because of safety fears.

It means some people have been forced to make 90-mile detours just to make trips to shops.

Raging torrents from the Derwent and the Cocker rivers wrecked houses and ripped up roads.

And now the government has decided to call in the Army to erect six Bailey Bridges to try and offer the people a lifeline to civilisation.

And that’s where Irvine’s old Bailey Bridge comes in.

This week, North Ayrshire Council confirmed that the bridge had gone down south and could be used as a life-saver for the stranded communities in Cumbria.

Contractors Graham who dismantled Irvine’s bridge sent the parts down to England.

They were sold on to another sub-contractor on the condition they would be recycled and used again.

A spokeswoman for North Ayrshire Council said: “Although the bridge had come to the end of its life in Irvine, it is still a working bridge and I am sure it would be considered as a way of helping the people of Cumbria.”

In Irvine, the new bridge connecting the Fullarton area of the town is to be re-opened by April 4.