The Breydon Bridge in the Norfolk coastal town of Great Yarmouth has had to be shut for six hours over safety concerns.

The Great Yarmouth Mercury newspaper reports that the drawbridge was shut to traffic on Tuesday 22 November due to what National Highways called “a structural issue.”

“It was initially believed this could impact the safe operation of the bridge so a decision was made to temporarily close the structure while assessments were carried out,” National Highways told the newspaper.

The report quotes Ajith Nair, project manager for the bridge’s redevelopment as saying: “We have been carrying out repairs since September to bring the bridge up to modern standards. This unexpected issue was identified as part of those works, and to ensure the safety of those using the bridge, it was necessary to temporarily close it.

“We remain grateful for road users’ patience while safety checks were carried out before the bridge was reopened.”

(Picture – Creative Commons, Copyright G Laird and licensed for reuse)