WARRINGTON had several bridges unfit for the heaviest vehicles on its roads last year, new figures show.

Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, which carried out the analysis, expressed concerns over the impact of severe weather and a shortage of engineering skills.

Figures obtained by the organisation through freedom of information requests show there were six substandard bridges in Warrington at the end of 2023.

These bridges cannot carry the largest 44-tonne lorries allowed on the nation’s roads, and they accounted for five per cent of the 113 bridges in the area.

In response, a Warrington Borough Council spokesman said: “Although six of the 113 bridges are classed as being sub-standard in terms of their ability to carry 44 tonnes, the bridges are in operation.

“Defects are assessed and placed on a forward programme. Some repairs may be minor in nature and will quickly restore the maximum load capacity of the bridges when completed.

“In some instances, the weight limit of bridges may be limited to ensure they are safe to use until repairs can be made.

“We have robust asset management processes in place for our highways and bridges. However, as with all highway assets, investment for the required maintenance of bridges is a challenge given current levels of funding.”

Steve Gooding, RAC Foundation director, said: ""This data should not be used as a stick to beat highway authorities with, but seen as a weathervane which indicates the way the highway condition wind is blowing."

The organisation analysed 201 responses from the 208 local highways authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.

Between the responses, 2,928 (four per cent) of the total 73,208 road bridges were substandard.

Some were substandard because they were built to earlier design standards, while others have deteriorated through age and use.

Mr Gooding added: "On the one hand, it looks like councils are holding their own in keeping their road networks functioning.

“But with every year which passes, we are seeing the challenge of maintaining climate resilience increase in the face of more extreme weather."

He added a drive in recruitment, training and retainment of engineers, alongside a new five-year funding settlement for local roads, would help protect bridges.

Local authorities said they would ideally want to bring 1,955 of their substandard bridges back up to full carrying capacity.

But budget constraints mean they anticipate that only 292 will have the necessary work carried out on them within the next five years.

The bridge maintenance work backlog across Britain is an estimated £6.8billion.

Darren Rodwell, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said councils want to do all they can to maintain local highway infrastructure.

He added: "Despite their best efforts, funding constraints limit the amount that councils can do in fulfilling these duties.

"Long-term, consistent funding for all councils would provide certainty for them to properly plan ahead and focus on preventative measures, to make all of our local highways infrastructure more resilient."