Grendon Road at White Mills Bridge, the crossing between Earls Barton and Grendon in North Northamptonshire, has been closed while engineers replace the ageing bridge deck. The main closure began on 12 January 2026; the road is expected to remain shut until at least 29 June 2026 (a target completion date).
North Northamptonshire Council, in partnership with contractor Kier, has started a full bridge-deck replacement that includes demolishing the existing deck, installing new foundations and a new bridge deck, and reconstructing and resurfacing the carriageway. The upgrade is intended to future-proof the route and will enable the bridge to carry full HGV (heavy goods vehicle) loading, which the current structure cannot support.
Both North Northamptonshire Council and BBC News say the bridge is fully closed to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists for safety reasons. The council states the works involve limited working space on the river crossing, so pedestrian access across the bridge will not be available during the works.
Local businesses adjacent to the works, including White Mills Marina and The Boathouse, remain physically accessible from the Grendon side, but the closure severs direct access from Earls Barton and forces motorists to follow a signed multi-mile diversion to reach them.
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