Highways England has reported good progress with its Clifton Bridge project.

Clifton Bridge eastbound was closed in February following the discovery of corroded steelwork within the concrete confines of the bridge.

Engineers are currently working within the hollow concrete chambers underneath the structure which house the steelcables required to pull the bridge together and take the strain of any compression and tension.

In February during an inspection, it was discovered the steel cables were more corroded than previously thought, leading to the emergency closure.

Repairs have been taking place from as early as 2018, when a large crack was discovered, and further maintenance work was conducted the following year.

Work on the bridge has involved specialist investigations and sample testing, as well as hydro-demolition, whereby engineers must wear protective suits to prevent injuries from high-speed concrete projectiles which may shoot off.

Calculations and analysis has also allowed a repair plan to be drawn up, with 2D and 3D computer models taking months to build. More steel and concrete will be added to the areas affected by water ingress and corrosion in the months ahead as part of this repair plan. The first phase of the work is taking place on the left hand side of the bridge, and once this is complete work will take place on the other side, allowing another lane to reopen.

According to Highways England, there are plans to open more lanes in November. Highways England’s Regional Director, Catherine Brookes, said: “To ensure the bridge is safe, we need to carry out complex repairs.

“We’re aiming to open more lanes on the bridge by the end of November and to restore the bridge to its former traffic layout with all lanes back open to motorists by the end of the year.”