Traffic disruption expected as repair work begins on town bridge

MELKSHAM is facing weeks of gridlock with major repairs starting this week on the town bridge.

Works began on 23rd February and for 12 weeks the upstream side of the bridge will be scaffolded to allow a specialist concrete repair company access to cut out and repair decayed sections of concrete and reinforcing steel.

Due to the soft silt in the river bed and the significant fluctuation in water levels the scaffold will be cantilevered from the roadway above, this will unfortunately necessitate closure of the footway and one traffic lane over the bridge. Temporary two-way traffic lights and additional pedestrian crossing points will be provided.

The original four span bridge was built in the early 19th Century and subsequently widened with a reinforced concrete footway extension in the late 1920s.

In the intervening years the concrete extension has deteriorated and is now in need of essential repairs to maintain public safety.

If readers have any questions then they are asked to email bridges@wiltshire.gov.uk in the first instance.