Bridge could be shut until summer

The Aberbechan bridge could be closed to all traffic for safety reasons for a number of months after it was damaged following the recent severe cold weather.

The bridge on the B4389 near Newtown closed on Sunday after the council received reports that cracks started to appear. An assessment of the Grade II listed structure showed that the bridge is in a dangerous condition.

Local traffic diversions have been put into place and barriers have been placed to stop all vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the bridge.

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “The council decided to take emergency action to close the bridge because the recent severe cold weather had made the structure dangerous to travel over.

“By closing the bridge we hope to prevent further damage occurring to the bridge.

“A full assessment of the structure’s condition will be carried out by the council. This will then determine how the council will repair the damage to the bridge.

“It is too early to say when the bridge will re-open and how much it will cost to repair the damage. However, as it is a listed structure over a river, we will need to consult the Environment Agency and Cadw on any works that are required.

“At this stage, the bridge will be closed for a number of months.”

The closure of the bridge has added to the volume of traffic using the main road into Newtown which is already facing serious congestion problems.