Bridge replacement delayed due to summer heatwaves

The replacement of a key 85-year-old bridge which has been shut since 2025 has been delayed due to the summer's heatwaves.

Winterstoke Road Bridge, a key transport link through Weston-super-Mare, was supposed to reopen to traffic in the summer of 2027, however North Somerset Council said this has been delayed to early 2028.

The delay to the new £11m bridge, which closed to traffic in November 2025, was caused by the summer's persistent hot weather sparking safety concerns for the railway track.

North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell apologised for the delay, adding the council's priority "is to get the route open to vehicles as early as possible".

The bridge was built during World War Two to provide access to the RAF's aeroplane production factory in Oldmixon and, at the time of its closure, was used by about 20,000 vehicles a day.

It was officially demolished in December last year after workers found significant structural issues.

The council said the new bridge will maintain the key traffic route for the next 120 years, and that the Ministry of Defence has covered the £11m cost of the replacement.

The firm behind the works, Octavius, said the summer's record-breaking hot weather and multiple heatwaves meant the railway track's steel got so hot it expanded, creating pressure within the track.

It said the heat led to strict railway safety controls set by Network Rail for works within the area, and that construction had to be paused because of a potential impact on the track's stability.

Matt Whale, framework manager at Octavius, said: "These are industry-wide safety requirements designed to protect passengers, freight services and the railway network."

Bell added: "I'm sorry that people will have to wait longer for this route to reopen.

"We know the closure is affecting journeys, and residents deserve a clear explanation of the delay and what happens next.

"We will publish a further update as soon as we can, including the next construction milestones and any changes to the expected completion date."

Earlier this year local business owners around the site told the BBC they saw customer numbers drop "swiftly" because of the closure.

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