A refurbishment project on an 18th century Grade II Listed road bridge in South Staffordshire is complete, with crews finishing the second and final phase of work at Wodehouse Lane Bridge on the A463 at Gospel End, Wombourne.
Staffordshire County Council said the latest phase took just under seven weeks, and the final works wrapped up two days ahead of schedule. The county council invested £350,000 across the full two-phase scheme, following initial work carried out last year.
The work centered on the bridge’s masonry arch, with the goal of improving and protecting the structure for future years. This round of construction included further strengthening, waterproofing, drainage improvements, and resurfacing. For mason contractors and restoration teams, it’s a clear reminder that water management and structural upgrades go together on historic masonry, especially when the asset still carries live traffic.
County officials also pointed to a broader issue: Staffordshire has many ageing structures that need reliable funding for preservation and maintenance. The council’s Roadmap to a Better Network highlights the challenge and includes a call for stronger government funding to help keep these types of structures in service.
Daniel Cecil, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Highways (Operations South), said the bridge refurbishment had to be carried out in keeping with its listed status, and he thanked the public for their patience during the work.
Read the full, original article from Highways News here.