More than £2m has been spent on repairs to bridge which continues to break down

TS Lord Nelson making its way towards Haven Bridge. Photo: Cate Meadows (Image: Cate Meadows)

Haven Bridge in Great Yarmouth was a regular source of frustration earlier in the year, with faults leaving motorists with just one route over the Yare during various closures.

Now it can be revealed how much Norfolk County Council has spent on the bridge in the past decade, with a freedom of information request revealing a seven-figure sum.

Since the 2007/08 financial year, £2,321,560 has been spent on maintaining the bridge, work which includes servicing, routine repairs and cosmetic works.

The request came from John Cooper, of Gorleston, who asked: “What has been the cost in total of repairs, engineering maintenance, painting, bridge road surface maintenance and employing Peel Ports for regular maintenance of Haven Bridge?”

Haven Bridge in Great Yarmouth . Photo: George Ryan (Image: Archant)

Further research has revealed the year-by-year breakdown of the spending, which shows the figure fluctuates year-on-year. For example, in the financial year of 2014/15, more than half a million pounds was spent on the bridge,

The breakdown is:

2007/08: £60,350

2008/09: £287,578

2009/10: £117,127

2010/11: £205,024

2011/12: £269,418

2012/13: £228,201

2013/14: £108,963

2014/15: £519,979

2015/16: £287,170

2016/17: £49,737

2017/18: £108,918

2018/19: -£20,905, as a result of £9,095 of spending thus far and a £30,000 accrual at the end of the 2017/18 financial year.

A council spokesman said: “Haven Bridge is nearly 90 years old and requires regular maintenance. Since 2007, maintenance works including routine servicing and electrical repairs, bridge deck and footway surface repairs, steelwork repairs and re-painting have been carried out.

“The inconvenience to road users, residents and businesses on occasions when the bridge is non-operational will be mitigated in future by the construction of the Great Yarmouth third river crossing.

“Alongside the efforts to fix the current problems with Haven Bridge we are looking at future improvements for the crossing and have already commissioned reports to look at the best long-term solutions and possible funding sources.”