In 2019, the Ministry of Defence allocated £10.8m in funding so that we could build a replacement bridge on Winterstoke Road.
Winterstoke Road replacement bridge
Project background
The existing bridge provides both a road and foot crossing over a mainline railway between Bristol and Taunton. It was built during World War II.
Due to its age, it is in poor condition and requires regular repairs to ensure that it is safe for our road users, pedestrians, and passengers on the trains below.
In recent years, the bridge has had a 7.5T weight restriction put in place to prevent larger vehicles from using it. This was done to prolong the life of the bridge. Since then, the condition has gradually worsened, with ongoing repair no longer financially possible. Without replacement, further weight restrictions and full closure would be likely in the next five to 10 years.
Replacing the bridge
Winterstoke Road is a vital route within Weston, with many local businesses and communities relying on the route for access. It also previously acted as an emergency diversion route for the M5.
Given the importance of the bridge, the Ministry of Defence (who own the bridge) have allocated funding to us to design and build a replacement that will better serve the area.
2023 update
We are currently working with the Ministry of Defence to meet challenges presented by inflation and rising costs across the construction industry. The Ministry of Defence have committed an additional £9m to the scheme and we will soon be able to provide an updated timeline for its design and development. We expect the replacement bridge will open in 2025 (subject to rail possessions).
2024 update
At April's meeting of the executive, members agreed to delegate authority to award the detailed design and build contract for Winterstoke Road Bridge to councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset and executive member for major projects.
We hope to be in a position to announce a contractor to take on detailed design and construction later in the summer, with the detailed design work starting shortly afterward.
Construction of the replacement Winterstoke Road Bridge is expected to begin in 2025. We will share more details when we can.
Further updates
We will be updating this webpage as the scheme moves forward with more details of design, upcoming works, and more.