Lincolnshire County Council wants to upgrade Crosskeys Bridge in Sutton Bridge

Plans have been submitted for an electrical and mechanical upgrade to the historic grade II listed swing bridge at Sutton Bridge.

Lincolnshire County Council wants permission from its own planning team to carry out an upgrade to the Bridge Road landmark, which spans the River Nene at the gateway to the county.

Built in the 1890s by Great Northern Railway, the Crosskeys bridge provided a vital crossing point for trains and motorists - and today is part of the A17 taking road traffic between Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Under the proposals, the existing hydraulic power pack will be replaced to enable it to be more easily maintained.

The hydraulic fluid will also be changed from a mineral oil to synthetic hydraulic fluid which is more environmentally friendly.

The county council said the bridge - which has to open for river traffic - had experienced numerous mechanical failures over the last few years and is in need of repair.

The application reads: “The existing mechanical and electrical systems were installed in the late 1980's and consist of mainly hydraulic (oil) powered components.

“These are becoming worn, have failed and are becoming difficult to source replacement parts.

“The operation of the bridge is also reliant on Victorian engineered components which presents another risk, there is an opportunity to reduce the reliance on these parts by bypassing these but retaining them for historical reasons and to reduce the visual impact of the proposed works.

“The computer controlled electrical and operator interface (PLC and SCADA) is no longer supported and needs refreshing and renewing with the up to date versions.

“The proposals are to make the bridge more reliable, easier to maintain for future years, extending the life of the bridge.”