Three opening ceremonies but bridge still not ready


Despite having its third opening ceremony graced by royalty, with the Monday 12 March visit of HRH the Princess Royal to Poole’s newest bridge, the town’s landmark Twin Sails still has no opening date for road traffic.

The problems did not prevent Princess Anne from being driven across the bridge to electronically raise its leaves from the Hamworthy control room, before going on to board HMS Cattistock docked at Poole Quay.

The £37 million scheme remains beset by technical problems including a 2m patch of road surface which broke away while the bridge was raised over Sunday night. The extent of the damage must be ascertained before repairs can be made.

The bridge lifting schedule will be maintained to allow boats to pass until the repairs are timetabled, but when the bridge will finally be opened to road traffic remains undetermined.

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