Winchester Tunbridge replaced following three-month delay

The bridge spans the Itchen Navigation, a disused canal system between Winchester and Southampton

A road has reopened following the replacement of a 100-year-old bridge which faced months of delays.

Work on the Tunbridge in Winchester, which was showing "visible signs of aging", began in March 2023 and was due to be finished in November.

But the £1.4m scheme's completion was pushed to February 2024 after "extensive deterioration" was found to the structure, the county council said.

With the bridge now replaced, Garnier Road has reopened to all vehicles.

The road had been closed to cars, but walkers and cyclists were still be able to pass through the site while work was taking place

The road and top section of the historic bridge were replaced with a structure that met modern traffic-carrying standards, according to Hampshire County Council.

It features a red brick exterior and has a lifespan of about 120 years.

A new highway drainage system was also constructed to reduce the risk of flooding on Garnier Road.

Nick Adams-King, the authority's cabinet member for universal services, said the work had been "complex" because of numerous utility cables that were embedded within the bridge.

"With the main element of the project now finished, our team will remain on site for a short while longer finalising other elements of the scheme such as improving the footpaths," he added.

The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest

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