Erwood bridge to shut to vehicles for nearly a year for repairs

Improvement work costing nearly £1m is set to close a Powys bridge to drivers for around a year.

Preliminary work started on Erwood bridge, near Builth Wells, last month and it will shut to motorists after the Royal Welsh Show later this month.

Powys council said the crossing, which spans the River Wye, was to be strengthened and refurbished and was planned to reopen in June 2014.

But it will remain open to pedestrians throughout the work, costing £960,000.

Diversions will be in place via the B4567 and A481 to Llanelwedd, via the A483 and A470 to Builth Wells and the A470 back to Erwood bridge.

A drop-in session at Erwood Village Hall on 8 July from 16:00 to 19:00 BST will give local people the chance to view plans for the bridge work and the diversions.