PLANS to replace a 100 year-old-bridge in Winchester costing £1.4m have been announced by Hampshire County Council.
Garnier Road will be closed to vehicles for nine months - from March 1 until the end of November - as work begins to replace the road over Tunbridge by St Catherine’s Hill.
The council is implementing the “significant and complex engineering project”, which is expected to take nine months, due to the bridge’s deterioration and to make the route safe.
The new bridge elements will meet modern weight-bearing standards and have been designed to complement the picturesque surroundings and nearby red brick heritage features.
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Improvements will also be made to nearby pavements as part of the council's Operation Resilience programme while the road closure is in place.
Signed diversions for motorists will be up, directing vehicles along St Cross and Bar End Road instead. Garnier Road will be open for access only, allowing Garnier Road carpark and St Catherine’s and Barfield park and ride carparks to remain usable.
Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use one side of the bridge for most of the nine-month project.
The executive lead member for universal services, Cllr Nick Adams-King, said: “At its century, Tunbridge is showing visible signs of its age and deterioration and therefore, the road and top section of the bridge now have to be replaced with a structure that meets modern standards.
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"This essential work will ensure that the route over the Itchen Navigation remains safe and in a serviceable condition for the next 100 years. Unfortunately, this will inevitably mean disruption while work is underway.
“The Handlebar Café and The Pump House will still be accessible by vehicles and on foot or bike. Other motorists will need to use the signed diversion route for the duration of the engineering work. I apologise for this unavoidable inconvenience, and I'd like to thank everyone in advance for their understanding and patience whilst this project is completed.”
For updates on the upcoming closures go to hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/tunbridge-garnierroad#step-1.
And to view the diversion route go to documents.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/B1306-diversionroute.pdf.
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