£7M To Replace Castle Cornet Bridge

Tuesday, 28 November 2023 07:26

View of the span bridge that it's proposed be replaced.

States will be told the concrete on the 1950s structure is crumbling and the bridge needs to be replaced, or eventually fenced off.

The bridge that takes people to Castle Cornet and beyond to the lighthouse is made of reinforced concrete and inspections show that this is crumbling.

For some time, people have been warned not to walk beneath it at low tide.

The States Trading Supervisory Board, which is in charge of Guernsey Ports, is bringing the policy letter to the States with a replacement price tag of between £6M to £7M.

Deputy Peter Roffey, who heads up STSB, says the favoured design is a like for like replacement, with added accessibility and safety features:

"Not only does it have the shortest anticipated delivery time, lowest base cost, least risk cost and lowest optimism bias, it is likely to secure planning approval and require little more than scheduled maintenance for half a century to come."

The new bridge has been approved by the States as a 'must do' project and funding was agreed at the October 2023 States meeting but it will still need to be put before the Assembly and a planning application submitted.

Deputy Peter Roffey says it's an important structure:

“Access to Castle Cornet is vital to sustain its economic model and its use as a public resource. The bridge also provides access to the Castle Breakwater and the Castle Lighthouse, which provides navigational assistance to the maritime community as well as being a local point of interest.”

If approved it could be complete by 2026.