Work to refurbish Ross Bridge in Penzance began on 5th January 2026. The project by Cornwall Council was originally expected to take 13 weeks.
Cornwall Council provided this update on Tuesday 10 February:
Since our last update, the project team remain ready to proceed, but unfortunately—and very frustratingly for all of us—the weather continues to be firmly against us.
Sea conditions around Penzance and the Lizard Point have been consistently rough, with waves ranging between 2.5 and 4 metres. While this may be an impressive sight, it creates extremely challenging conditions for the transportation of a 40m barge from Falmouth, and conditions remain well outside the safe limits required. Once the barge does arrive, the next step involves lifting the 26‑tonne bridge structure, using a 650‑tonne crane, onto the barge. Because of its scale, this lift can only be performed in one coordinated operation, with the right conditions. Anything less introduces risks that are not acceptable for our crews, contractors, or the community.
Despite these challenges, our commitment to the Ross Bridge project remains absolutely unchanged and we are ready to go as soon as nature allows. We understand how eager the community is to see visible progress and while this ongoing delay is disappointing, safety must come first. The team is on standby, checking forecasts and marine conditions daily and the moment we have a safe and viable weather window, the lift will go ahead.
Thank you to everyone for your continued patience and support as we work towards the next major milestone in the Ross Bridge maintenance and renovation project.
