Herring Bridge becomes operational to river traffic

The Herring Bridge is set to be Great Yarmouth's third river crossing

Boats passing through a new £121m bridge must now seek permission two hours in advance, a council has said.

The Herring Bridge in Great Yarmouth opened to marine traffic at 07:00 GMT on Monday.

The bridge was expected to open to road traffic in the summer but was hit by delays, including the unplanned detonation of a World War Two bomb and a potential vole burrow found nearby.

Norfolk County Council said a new date would be "provided in the New Year".

Vessels that do not seek permission to pass through the bridge could have their access denied, the council added.

The bridge's lifting spans are set to remain largely open until final testing and commissioning has been completed.

Construction of the bridge began in January 2021.