It could be months before an historic bridge which connects Brighouse and Elland is fully repaired.
Elland Bridge was shut down in the early hours of Wednesday after the road across it crumbled in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day floods.
And now the leader of Calderdale Council, Tim Swift, has warned the vital artery could be shut for many weeks.
Clr Swift paid a visit to Elland Bridge this afternoon, just hours after the road collapsed in the early hours.
He was joined by the council’s chief executive Merran McRae.
Police had asked West Yorkshire fire service to monitor the situation at 12.30am on Wednesday amid fears that there might be an explosion after gas and water mains running below the bridge across the Calder & Hebble Canal fractured.
Engineers and Calderdale’s emergency planner also arrived at the scene.
The bridge is now closed in both directions between the A6025 Park Road junction and the Northgate junction, with drivers facing with long detours to get in and out of Elland town centre.
Clr Swift said: “It is the canal bridge not the river bridge that is damaged. As the River Calder and canal both flooded we started getting flooding under the canal bridge and that has caused damage to the structure.
“We think that when the water main fractured the water from that has further weakened the structure of the canal bridge. This is an example of the damage that flooding can do.
“We have no idea at the moment what the scale and cost of the damage might be though we should have a better idea by the start of next week.”
Calderdale is one of the worst hit areas in Yorkshire to suffer terrible flood damage with Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd particularly badly affected. Copley has also suffered some damage.
Clr Swift added: “One of the things we are seeking from government ministers will be a commitment from them to repair the infrastructure. The bill may run into millions of pounds.”
Asked to describe the significance of the closure of Elland Bridge he said: “It’s very significant.
“It’s the most direct route between Elland and Brighouse and connects two of our most significant market towns.
“It’s not just the inconvenience this closure means it will put more pressure on other routes such as West Vale.”
