NATIONAL Highways has revealed a glimpse of what the replacement for the Badminton Road bridge over the M4 could look like.
The government agency, which is responsible for the crossing, closed the existing bridge in July last year after engineers found “structural failures” during a routine inspection.
The bridge by the Wick Wick roundabout, which carried the A432 between the Avon Ring Road and Yate, was being used by around 16,000 vehicles a day when it closed. Around 87,000 vehicles a day pass underneath it on the M4.
National Highways say the new bridge will be what is known as an “online replacement”, following a similar alignment and footprint to the existing bridge.
It says this is “the quickest and most economically effective option for replacement” as it uses the same land as the current bridge, with less planning red tape and consultation, less disruption and less impact on surrounding woodland than other options.
The agency says: “Pedestrian and cycling facilities will be much improved, with wider shared footways and higher parapets.”
National Highways has now carried out two of three planned closures of the M4 linked to the current stage of work, with the last one due on June 13, from 9.30pm until 6am.
There will be further motorway closures in the autumn and winter, as utilities like pipes and cables currently in the bridge structure are rerouted under the motorway before the bridge is demolished.
Pedestrians and cyclists are currently still able to use the bridge.
For more information on the bridge and diversions, visit tinyurl.com/368yk6yc and www.southglos.gov.uk/BMRclosure.