OVERNIGHT works have been planned as part of the next phase of a major scheme to restore the Winterstoke Road Bridge in Weston-super-Mare.
Starting this month (November 2026), infrastructure and engineering company Octavius, working on behalf of North Somerset Council, will continue works at the historic World War Two bridge site.
The new construction works are due to be completed in Summer 2027. The initial planned opening date was delayed until 2028 because high rail temperatures prevented some railway-side work from going ahead.
Residents have been informed of overnight works whilst construction crews are in the area via letters.
Due to safety requirements and access restrictions imposed by Network Rail, much of the work must be carried out overnight when train services are reduced or suspended.
The planned work includes a number of Saturday night shifts running from 10pm to 8am on November 7 and December 5, 12 and 19.
Two weekend railway blockade periods have also been scheduled, running continuously from 10pm on Friday to 7am on Monday. These will take place between November 13 and 16 and again from November 20 to 23.
Further overnight activity is planned from November 24 to 26 and from December 6 to 10, with crews typically working between 11pm and 7am.
Octavius said some of the work will take place during planned railway blockades, allowing longer access to the line and helping to reduce the need for future Saturday night working.
The company confirmed there are currently no railway works planned on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or during the New Year period.
In the letter, residents were warned that some noise will be unavoidable because of the nature of the construction work. However, the contractor said it would continue to review construction methods and working practices to minimise disruption wherever possible.
The Winterstoke Road Replacement Bridge Scheme is one of North Somerset Council's major transport infrastructure projects, with work taking place close to the railway corridor. The bridge is a key route through Weston, with its closure causing disruption to journeys across the town.
Council leader Cllr Mike Bell previously said not all roadworks were controlled by North Somerset Council, with utilities and telecommunications companies carrying out work across the network. He added that major projects, including the Banwell bypass, were working towards government funding deadlines.
The original bridge, which was demolished on Christmas Day 2025, was reportedly suffering from significant structural issues. Without its replacement, the bridge would eventually have needed to close permanently to protect public safety.
The Ministry of Defence is covering the replacement cost, while the new structure is expected to maintain the route for another 120 years.
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