Gloucester Tall Ships Festival bridge repairs completed in time at huge cost
Crucial repairs to a main bridge have been completed in time to allow a fleet of tall ships into Gloucester Docks. Cracks were discovered at the base of a mast on High Orchard Bridge, which spans St Ann Way over the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal in Gloucester.
This meant the bridge was unable to safely lift to allow vessels taller than five metres to navigate the canal, barring ships from entering the docks. Not the ideal situation when the Gloucester Tall Ships Festival was upcoming.
Teams from the Canal & River Trust swiftly responded, collaborating closely with contractors Kier to complete the necessary repairs in time for the eagerly anticipated event this weekend. The work carried out has ensured the safe operation of the bridge once more, with further improvements planned for the bridge cables and road surface.
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The Canal & River Trust is now preparing to help welcome a fleet of vessels into Gloucester for the much-loved Tall Ships Festival. It runs from Saturday, May 25 to Bank Holiday Monday, May 27.
Richard Wakelen, Head of Asset Management at the Canal & River Trust, said: "Our experienced engineers, alongside our contractors, have worked incredibly quickly to identify the problems with High Orchard Bridge and carry out the repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Tall Ships Festival brings in thousands of visitors who come to see the ships and explore the Docks, and we knew we had to get the bridge fixed in time. We're delighted that the bridge is now fully open and we're ready to welcome the ships for a fantastic festival.
"As a charity, urgent repairs like this come at a cost, and we have invested £250,000 in repairing the bridge so the Tall Ships Festival can go ahead, at a time when we are facing increasing challenges in our work to keep canals alive. We welcome support – we urge locals and visitors alike to come and find us at the festival to find out about our work and how people can help make a difference."
The upcoming Tall Ships Festival will highlight ships that have featured in Hollywood hits such as Napoleon and the Pirates of the Caribbean. These majestic vessels have journeyed from as far away as Spain to be part of this event.
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