Mandale Road bridge - everything you need to know about this essential road closure
A temporary road closure of Mandale Road bridge will be in place from Saturday, 3 July as essential works to repair the bridge get under way.
![Stockton's Mandale road bridge Image of Stockton's Mandale road bridge](https://stockton.gov.uk/image/2703/Stockton-s-Mandale-road-bridge/standard.png?m=1646047292660)
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is carrying out a range of repairs and maintenance, the majority of which will be to the underside of the bridge.
A signed diversion route for all traffic will be in place for the duration of the road closure by turning the existing one-way system on George Street into two-way traffic until the work is complete.
Why is the work necessary?
Mandale Road bridge is a well-used route into Stockton town centre which carries a significant amount of traffic.
The bridge, which has been in use for over 40 years, now requires important repairs and maintenance to protect a vital crossing point and prolong its life.
The works should prolong the life of the bridge for another 20 to 25 years.
Which roads will be closed?
In order to safely carry out the bridge works, a full road closure of Mandale Road between Yale Crescent and Railway Terrace will be in place from Saturday 3 July to Friday 3 September.
The access road to Thornaby Station will also be closed.
Some localised construction works will be required on Mandale Road and George Street until 25 June. During this period lane closures may be required at off-peak times between 9.30am to 3.30pm.
Will the work cause disruption?
Councillor Mike Smith, the Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "The majority of the works are being carried out to the underside of the bridge but inevitably there will be some disruption while the road is closed for repair.
"We've scheduled most of the work to coincide with the summer holidays when traffic is usually lighter, and signed diversions will be in place for the duration of the closure.
"These essential repairs will strengthen the bridge and extend its life so that people can use it for many more years. We thank everyone for their patience while the works are carried out."
Will access to businesses be affected?
Access to businesses in the area will be maintained throughout the road closure. Mandale estate, Robert Street and Stephenson Street can be accessed by following the signed diversion route, while access to the Bonlea and Gladstone estates will remain unchanged via Harewood Road.
What about access to Thornaby Station?
Unfortunately, the access road to Thornaby train station will be closed from 3 July to 3 September. However, pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to access the station as normal.
During the road closure, alternative parking for the train station will be made available in the local area and will be fully signed.
For those who cycle, a new secure cycle storage hub has recently been installed at Thornaby train station which can accommodate 34 bikes.
The facility offers safe and secure cycle storage and features CCTV as well as a maintenance area and can be accessed free of charge.
What will happen to bus and taxi stops?
Car and taxi drop-off points will be placed on Mandale Road, close to Thornaby Town Hall.
Alternative temporary bus stops will be placed as close to the station as possible.