Chain Bridge, A1017 Church Road, Great Yeldham

Works location and photo

About the works

Essex Highways will be undertaking essential strengthening and repair works to Chain Bridge on the A1017 Church Road in Great Yeldham during summer 2025.  These works are vital to ensure the continued safety of the structure for public use and to enhance its long-term durability.

Chain Bridge spans Stambourne Brook and comprises of a two-span brick arch constructed in the 17th century, later extended in 1946 with a single-span concrete frame. The upcoming structural works will focus on the eastern brick arches.

In collaboration with the Environment Agency and an ecologist, we will implement measures to protect the watercourse and local wildlife. Temporary working platforms will be installed within the brook to allow for precision cutting of grooves into the brickwork. These grooves will accommodate reinforcement bars, which will be secured using masonry adhesive, preserving the bridge’s historic character while improving its structural integrity.

As part of the project, we will remove accumulated debris from the watercourse to improve water flow through the arches and install bat boxes, where appropriate, to support local biodiversity.

How it will affect you

Works are scheduled to begin on 16 June 2025, with the support of temporary traffic lights at the bridge to maintain traffic flow and minimise disruption. By avoiding a full road closure, we aim to reduce inconvenience for road users while ensuring the safety of both the public and our workforce.

The traffic lights will remain in operation 24 hours a day for the duration of the works, as activity will be concentrated on the eastern side of the structure. Most of the construction work will take place beneath the bridge and will not be visible from the road, however, we ask drivers to follow all on-site traffic management measures for everyone’s safety.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.

We understand that the works may cause some temporary noise and disruption, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of local residents and businesses. We encourage all road users to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys during this period.

The project is expected to complete during autumn 2025.

Further information

Please note that the programme may be subject to change if affected by poor weather or if unexpected issues arise.

We aim to keep residents and businesses updated via this webpage and site signage. Information will also be shared with local parish councils.

For details about other roadworks in the area please visit: one.network or the @essexhighways twitter feed.