Winterstoke Road bridge in Weston will not reopen until early 2028, not summer 2027. Summer heat halted piling beside the railway, North Somerset Council says.
Winterstoke Road bridge in Weston-super-Mare will not reopen to traffic until early 2028. The previous target was summer 2027.
North Somerset Council announced the delay on Monday 5 October. It blames the summer heat. When rail temperatures ran high, piling beside the railway had to stop, because the work could affect the stability of the track (North Somerset Council).
The bridge closed to motor vehicles on Monday 24 November 2025. On the new timetable, drivers will have been diverted for more than two years by the time it reopens.
Why the work stopped
The bridge carries Winterstoke Road over the main line between Bristol and Taunton. Steel rails expand as they heat up. Network Rail sets fixed safety limits, and as rail temperatures rise it restricts construction work near the track.
The piling sits right beside the railway, so it could not go ahead on the hottest days. The council notes that 2026 was the hottest summer on British record.
Some of the work can only happen when Network Rail closes the line, which means late nights and weekends. The new bridge will stand on 24 piles, each 35 metres deep and 1.2 metres across, needed because of poor ground conditions (North Somerset Council). The foundations have to be finished before the bridge itself can be built.
Councillor Mike Bell, the council’s leader, said: “I’m sorry that people will have to wait longer for this route to reopen. We know the closure is affecting journeys, and residents deserve a clear explanation of the delay and what happens next.”
He said the council is reviewing the remaining timetable with its contractor, Octavius, to see whether any work can be brought forward or rephased. “We will publish a further update as soon as we can, including the next construction milestones and any changes to the expected completion date.”
The revised programme
The council’s project timeline now runs like this:
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Foundation works | until early 2027 |
| Building the new bridge | early to late 2027 |
| Utilities moved back onto the bridge | late 2027 |
| Road built, landscaping | late 2027 to early 2028 |
| Temporary footbridge removed | early 2028 |
| Winterstoke Road reopens to all traffic | early 2028 |
What it means for you
- The diversion stays. The council’s signed route runs along The Runway, the A371, Flowerdown Bridge and the A370. It warns that the Airport roundabout and The Runway roundabout are extra busy, so plan around peak times (North Somerset Council).
- You can still cross on foot. A temporary footbridge stays open throughout, and is not removed until the new bridge is ready.
- About 20,000 cars a weekday used the old bridge, by the council’s count. That traffic is now on the diversion and other local roads.
- Expect more night and weekend work beside the railway, timed for Network Rail’s line closures.
Our North Somerset roadworks page carries the other closures around Weston this week, including the Worle High Street works and the weeknight M5 closures at junction 21.
What the new bridge brings
The old bridge was built during the Second World War to serve the RAF’s aircraft factories. It was only ever meant to be temporary. It carried a 7.5 tonne weight limit, and the council says that without replacement it would have had to close for good within five to ten years (North Somerset Council). It was demolished over Christmas 2025.
The replacement is designed to last 120 years. It will include:
- no weight limit, so larger vehicles can use it again
- a 2 metre footpath on the western side
- a 3 metre shared path for cyclists and pedestrians on the eastern side, linking into the local walking and cycling routes
The Ministry of Defence owns the bridge and is paying for its replacement. The council has added £450,000 of its own capital money for the walking, cycling and horse riding improvements.
Questions
Questions about the scheme go to the project team at Winterstoke.RoadBridge@n-somerset.gov.uk. The council aims to reply within 10 working days.
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