Reporter DIANA HENDERSON reports on the Borough of Poole’s Q&A briefing

Why hasn’t the bridge opened?

An inspection carried out by contractors following load testing last week revealed a defect in a small area of road surfacing on both lifting leaves of the bridge.

A small area of defective surfacing came away from the top section of one lifting leaf at some point between 7.30pm on Sunday March 11 and 7am on Monday March 12.

The council and the project contractors Hochtief (UK) Construction Ltd have agreed the best course of action is to replace the road surface on each lifting leaf.

WHAT’S the cause of the problem ?

The contractor Hochtief (UK) and design team Ramboll are currently investigating with their material specialists.

Until these investigations are complete we cannot be certain.

IS this delay due to the design of the bridge?

No. In Ramboll and Hochtief (UK), we have a world-class design team and contractor, who have worked on complex engineering structures, such as the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead.

We have every confidence they will deliver a world-class structure.

WHAT happens now?

Firstly, we must understand what has happened and then agree a solution with the contractor.

Then we must put into place arrangements to undertake the works.

The road resurfacing is likely to require a short term closure of the Backwater Channel. This would involve a temporary suspension of the current lifting schedule.

Putting these arrangements in place would take some days and may require publication of a legal notice. We hope to undertake this work with a minimum amount of disruption to stakeholders.

WHEN will the bridge be ready to open?

Once the investigations are complete we will publish a revised programme of works and will look to open the Twin Sails Bridge to road traffic at the earliest opportunity.

CAN the bridge be opened to pedestrians and cyclists now?

No. The bridge is still a construction site so it is not yet a public highway.

As soon as the council and contractors are happy the bridge is ready for public use, then it will be opened to all traffic.

WHY did the council go ahead with the Twin Sails celebration and the visit by HRH The Princess Royal?

We’d hoped the bridge would be open by the time of the official celebrations and put together an exciting programme that was enjoyed by thousands of people on March 9.

It would not have been possible to rearrange this event at short notice. An invitation to visit the Twin Sails Bridge was extended to the Royal household last year.

WHAT is the cost of the Twin Sails Bridge?

WE have put in place a combination of funding from public and private sector sources to meet the cost in the construction phase, none of which falls on local taxpayers.

The cost of constructing the Twin Sails Bridge will be in the region of £21.6million.

(Echo note: The cost of infrastructure and roads around the bridge will take the cost to £37m.)

WILL local taxpayers have to pick up the bill for the delay?

No. We do not envisage any cost burden to the local tax payer as a result of the current delay.

The terms of the council’s agreement with the contractor are subject to confidentiality.

However, there is a mechanism within the contractual arrangements to incentivise performance.