POOLE Bridge is closed to traffic until further notice after safety gates were damaged.

Poole council said a technical problem was discovered on the lifting bridge on Sunday morning. An investigation into how the damage was caused to the bridge is under way, but the council said they could not find any evidence a vehicle was involved.

Road users are being encouraged to use the Twin Sails Bridge which is operating as normal. 

Engineering manager John Rice said: “For safety reasons the bridge was closed to all road users and was left in its raised position to allow continued access for mariners.

“We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fault. In the meantime the bridge will remain closed to road traffic until we can identify the cause and carry out appropriate repairs.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Only the pedestrian and cycle paths were re-opened for public use yesterday, and the normal lifting schedule resumed.

Poole Bridge only re-opened in January after 16 months of renovation work. The project was more than six months over schedule and pushed back a total of seven times. Engineers blamed the delays on tough working conditions, late delivery of parts, uncharted utility lines and unmapped remnants of previous bridges.

The bridge then underwent a series of overnight closures in February and March while permanent walkways were installed.

Ann Smeaton, of Hamside Residents’ Association, said this latest closure would “definitely cause some hassle” for Hamworthy residents.

“We only had one bridge recently with the closure of the Twin Sails, and traffic during that time was horrendous,” she said.

“If you need to get somewhere, it can be very frustrating.

“Going back 30 years, Poole Bridge often had a six-week closure, but there wasn’t this level of congestion.

“The problems now can only be down to the increased number of residents. And with more developments to come in the area, it’s quite worrying how bad the congestion will be then.”