Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 13 February (HL14187), whether a hole was drilled through the south span of Ridge Road Bridge to check its infill status 12 months after the infilling was completed.

National Highways has confirmed a hole was drilled in the south span of Ridge Road Bridge approx. 12 months after completion of infilling.

The original plan of November 2015 included the infilling of the south span along with the north & centre spans. Since finding the void in the south span, in 2023 National Highways did not progress with the original planned works as local active travel groups asked if the south span could be used as a potential active travel route. Since finding the void, National Highways has confirmed it has no safety concerns.