The replacement Winterstoke Road bridge in Weston-super-Mare will open in early 2028, at least five months later than originally planned. North Somerset Council had targeted a summer 2027 opening, but piling work beside the Bristol–Taunton railway line faced repeated suspensions during the summer due to high rail temperatures.
Safety limits halt piling on hot days
The Winterstoke Road bridge carries traffic over the busy rail line connecting Bristol and Taunton. Its predecessor dates to the Second World War and showed significant structural problems. The old bridge was demolished at Christmas 2025 to make way for the new structure.
The new bridge requires 24 deep piles, each 35 metres long and 1.2 metres in diameter, to support the foundations on poor ground conditions next to the railway.
On the hottest days, piledriving has to stop because steel rails expand as they heat. Track expansion creates pressure as the rails are constrained, so Network Rail sets temperature limits beyond which work near the railway must pause to avoid destabilising the track.
Pausing piling work near the operational line is a safety measure to prevent any risk to track stability. However, these stoppages have pushed back the foundation completion date to early 2027.
Revised schedule extends construction into 2028
With foundations delayed, bridge construction will take place through 2027. The road is now scheduled to reopen in early 2028.
Councillor Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, acknowledged the impact on local journeys and said the council is exploring options to accelerate the programme.
MoD ownership and long-term maintenance
The Ministry of Defence owns the old bridge and funds its replacement, despite the crossing no longer being used for military purposes. North Somerset Council will take ownership of the new bridge once complete and will maintain it for its planned 120-year lifespan.
The announcement does not specify whether the delay will affect project costs or who would bear any increase.
Implications for contractors and drivers
The bridge closure affects around 20,000 vehicles daily, requiring diversions to remain in place for most of another year plus winter 2027–28.
For contractors working next to operational railways, the experience highlights the increased programme risks posed by heatwaves under current UK safety rules enforced by Network Rail.
