Summer closure of major city bridge scrapped

Work to add "new safety fencing" will still take place

A planned summer closure of a major city bridge has been scrapped, a council has confirmed.

Southampton City Council had said the Itchen Bridge would close from the 15 July for maintenance work that would last for eight weeks.

Work to add "new safety fencing" will still take place but two-way traffic can be maintained, the local authority has said.

The bridge will need to close for drainage and resurfacing work but dates and details of this part of the project are yet to be announced.

The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout all works.

The changes to the closure come after the council carried out detailed surveys and planning.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for transport, said: “The importance of the Itchen Bridge Maintenance Project cannot be understated; however, we do appreciate that it will have a very significant impact on local people and as such are committed to communicating key updates and milestones as soon as practicably possible with the condition that details are subject to change as new information becomes available.”