URGENT structural work on an A12 bridge which has been left unrepaired for four years will reportedly cost at least £3.75million.

Severalls Bridge, which crosses the A12 and connects Colchester to the nearby villages of Langham and Boxted, was damaged in 2020 when it was hit by a truck carrying a tractor.

With the bridge structurally compromised, it has only been able to withstand one lane of traffic and temporary traffic lights have been in place during the four years since.

National Highways confirmed to the Gazette last year the bridge won’t be fully repaired until either 2025 or 2026 and the A12 will need to be closed whilst the work is carried out.

Frustrated – council leader David King said he was taken aback by the cost of the repair worksFrustrated – council leader David King said he was taken aback by the cost of the repair works (Image: George King, Newsquest)

Insiders have said repairing the bridge will cost millions of pounds, with a conservative estimate sitting at £3.75million although the final bill could be up to £500k higher.

David King, who is the leader of Colchester council and represents Mile End ward, said the cost and delay was “symptomatic of a lack of investment” in infrastructure.

He said: “I share resident frustration at the delays and the unending traffic lights on Severalls Lane.

“But I do welcome, despite the spiralling costs, action on design and plans for repair, even if over a year away before delivery.

“I will be pressing National Highways to deliver to this latest timetable.”

He continued: “It’s a long time over and it says a lot about the priority we give to our road system, in Essex and beyond.

“We don’t get the investment that Essex needs – it is a symptom of a lack of investment in our nation’s highways in Essex and beyond.”

Damage – a truck carrying a tractor crashed into the bridge in March 2020Damage – a truck carrying a tractor crashed into the bridge in March 2020 (Image: Johan Mahoney-Berg)

When the £3.75million figure was put to National Highways, a spokesman did not deny the figure.

He said: “When the bridge was originally damaged by an over-height vehicle in March 2020 our priority was to ensure it remained in a condition safe for road users.

“Assessments confirmed the damaged beams required specialist repairs, and that we could only reopen the bridge to single-carriageway traffic.

“Since this time the bridge has been inspected regularly to ensure no further damage occurs.

“We have now agreed on the preferred option for repairs and are progressing with the scheme design ahead of delivery during 2025/26.”