Durham County Council is to inspect a small bridge being used by diverted traffic after villagers warned it could become the scene of a serious accident, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
The authority said an inspector would visit the bridge in Hamsterley this week to check for defects and determine whether any work is needed.
The crossing over Linburn Beck has become a key part of the diversion into and out of the County Durham village, where residents say they have been forced to rely on an unsuitable route for more than three years.
The C31 at Crakehill Bank has been closed since January 2023, following erosion of the southern embankment that caused significant instability and subsidence.
Council engineers say the road was closed in the interests of public safety, while ground investigations were carried out to help develop a solution to realign the carriageway.
The closure has resulted in a 4.5-mile diversion.
Villagers say the prolonged closure has placed additional pressure on the diversion route, including the narrow bridge over Linburn Beck.
Robert Potts, county councillor for Evenwood ward, said the pinch point had been the scene of several traffic accidents. Residents have also raised concerns about larger vehicles using the bridge, with reports of lorries and vans having to negotiate the narrow crossing.
Durham County Council’s structures manager Andrew Lough said the authority had already carried out a detailed assessment of the bridge.
He said: “We carried out an in-depth examination of the bridge last year to determine that it was safe and structurally sound.
“We will be sending another inspector out this week to assess for any defects and plan any required works accordingly.
“We appreciate the importance of the bridge as a route in and out of the village, and we will continue to monitor it closely to ensure it is structurally safe.”
Uncertainty continues over whether the C31 road will ever reopen.
In November 2025, the council said the road would remain closed after further movement and damage was identified, saying the nature of the carriageway and embankment slippage made finding a solution “challenging and complex”.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
