New Craigmill bridge takes shape

After being closed to motorists since 2018, the Craigmill Bridge along the Buff Bay to White Hall main road in Portland is finally being replaced, with the new structure now taking shape.

The bridge had been deemed unsafe and closed to traffic before suffering a dramatic partial collapse when a truck overloaded with stones attempted to cross the structure.

The collapse left residents of Craigmill, White Hall and Belvedere facing major access problems, with the bridge serving as the only point of entry and exit for the three communities.

Now, six years after the bridge was first closed, workers are installing both a new pedestrian footbridge and the main vehicular bridge.

“This dual-focused approach ensures that our children and residents can walk safely above the riverbanks during heavy rains, while heavy transport infrastructure is securely restored,” Portland Western Member of Parliament (MP) Daryl Vaz said.

The development follows years of complaints and disruption for residents, including problems with a temporary fording that became inundated.

During a visit to the site in February 2025, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie described the situation as “a real emergency” and said the area would be declared a disaster to facilitate immediate action.

Works Minister Robert Morgan also acknowledged the difficulties facing residents and said efforts would be made to create a temporary structure while facilitating a permanent bridge.

With the new bridge now taking shape, Vaz took to social media to hail the development.

“What a massive difference!” he wrote in a post featuring a striking before-and-after comparison of the collapsed structure and the shiny new crossing now being installed.

“ We are moving rapidly from the devastation of the old, collapsed structure to a modern, resilient crossing that will permanently reconnect our communities,” the MP said.