St George’s will lose its swing bridge for the coming fiscal year in a bid to accrue savings.

Practical as well as economic considerations affected the decision, according to Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin. The bridge, at Ferry Reach, needed repairs which would be included in the 2014/2015 schedule of maintenance, she said.

According to a Ministry spokeswoman, closing the bridge would also save Government $163,000 in labour costs.

The bridge was put out of commission by a lightning strike, which left it stuck open for an hour in July 2012.

Man-made closures aren’t unusual for the bridge over Ferry Reach. Its operating hours were cut in 2011 to save money, with a half-hour dropped from the beginning and end of the Swing Bridge’s working day.

In November 2001 the bridge was shut down for several months of resurfacing and repairs.

St George’s mayor Garth Rothwell refrained from comment yesterday, saying he’d discuss the issue first with area MP Kenneth Bascome.