Bridge 14, Brewood Bridge, South Staffordshire

Following the emergency closure of the towpath and road over the canal bridge in Brewood at the end of November, investigations reveal the need for major repairs to the bridge structure, as well as permanent repairs to a water main and sewer pipe beneath the bridge.

We are working closely with Severn Trent Water and the local authority to coordinate these complex works.

We are still waiting for final timescales for the water main, sewer, and bridge repairs. Once these programmes are confirmed and the water main and sewer work is completed, we will carry out the necessary structural repairs to the bridge.

All partners are working to progress the repairs as quickly as possible. We recognise the importance of this route to the local community and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Please note that the towpath and road at Bridge 14 remain closed due to structural concerns.

Initial inspections have identified bulging of the southern towpath wingwall, voiding beneath it, and damage to a Severn Trent pipe. For safety reasons, stabilisation works are required before any repairs can proceed, as excavation at this stage could result in further structural failure.

Our Asset Engineers are working with Severn Trent and the local authority to agree the next steps. We are progressing this with urgency to minimise the impact on the local community. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

Please note that the towpath remains closed at Bridge 14, Brewood Bridge. A full inspection of the bridge is required before third-party repair works can proceed.

We will provide a further update as soon as the inspection has been completed.

Our engineers have visited the site and assessed that it is safe to reopen the canal, as the damage to the bridge is located well away from the bridge arch. The towpath will remain closed until further assessment is carried out tomorrow, as water is still running from the burst pipe onto the towpath. We will provide a further update as soon as possible.

A third-party water main has burst and caused damage to Bridge 14, Brewood Bridge. As a result, the canal and towpath underneath the bridge are closed until further investigation is carried out to assess the structural condition of the bridge following the failure. Further updates will be provided as soon as possible.