Repair bill for M32 bridge in Bristol goes up to £200m

The motorway bridge is in poor condition and needs extensive repairs, according to safety inspectors

The estimated repair bill for a motorway bridge has risen from £22.6m to £200m.

The Eastville Viaduct flyover on the M32 in Bristol needs repairs to cracked concrete and corroding bearings.

The extent of the repairs needed on the bridge was revealed in a recent safety inspection report.

National Highways, the government company responsible for motorways, is now planning a much wider programme of works.

The works are due to start in 2026 and are predicted to cause months of disruption for drivers.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: "The early estimate in the structure's general inspections report was based on individual and visible repairs at that time, and not the full extent of the scheme we now plan to deliver, which includes additional work to extend the life of the whole structure and replacement of such assets as gantries, technology, drainage and noise and safety barriers.

"It also didn't include other expenses such as providing a complex traffic management solution to maintain as much traffic capacity as possible."

Defects with the 1.1-kilometre bridge include poor installation of bearings that were fitted "incorrectly" and a "lack of quality control" during concrete pours, according to the inspection report carried out earlier this summer.

On the bottom of the bridge, concrete has broken away in several parts, and corroding reinforcement steel can now be seen from below.

National Highways previously said the bridge was "structurally sound and safe" and they "hope to keep it open" in some capacity while the repair works take place.