A main road north of Bristol is going to be closed for eight months while work takes place to demolish and install a new railway bridge.
Gipsy Patch Lane will be closed from the start of March so the railway bridge can be dismantled and replaced to accommodate a new metrobus route.
The bridge works - which began last year - are part of the Cribbs Patchway metrobus extension (CPME) scheme, which will provide a direct bus link between Bristol Parkway and The Mall.
Work to construct the new 4,500 tonne replacement bridge has been taking place within the Alun Griffiths site compound in Horizon 38 business park on Gipsy Patch Lane - and the structure is finally beginning to take shape.
Piling work has also been taking place to create the foundations needed to support the four corners of the replacement bridge.
The work has suffered some delays but South Gloucestershire Council has said the project is still on track to meet the Easter deadline for installing the new bridge.
To enable the new bridge to be moved into place the railway will be closed between Saturday, April 11 and Sunday April, 19.
South Gloucestershire Council has said that further information concerning the bridge move will be shared nearer the time, but some trains will need to be diverted and buses will replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Newport during the nine day closure.
However prior to moving the bridge, Gipsy Patch Lane will be closed at the railway bridge to all road users - including cyclists and pedestrians - for eight months from Thursday, March 5.
This is to allow the contractors to carry out the final preparations before the bridge is maneuvered into place.
Once the bridge has been moved into place the road closure will remain in place while work is done to lower the road.
A South Gloucestershire spokesperson said: “Access to properties along Gipsy Patch Lane will be maintained and all shops and businesses on and near Gipsy Patch Lane will be open as normal.
“Network Rail and its contractor Alun Griffiths will be working towards re-opening a route for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists beneath the new bridge as soon as possible.
“We will update the wider community when this information is available.”
In June last year Gipsy Patch Lane was closed for four weeks so BT could carry out preparation work to divert underground utilities before the scheme begins.
And while traffic problems seemed to have been kept to a minimum, businesses in the area say they suffered losses as a result of the closure, with one firm claiming sales were down by £17,000.
The council had previously confirmed the road would be fully or partially closed for approximately 21 months while works are carried out to demolish the railway bridge near Station Road.
The bridge work will enable both a general traffic and a bus lane in each direction as well as shared use cycle and pedestrian pathways.
The scheme will also include footway widening and new bus lanes along other sections of Gipsy Patch Lane.
It is hoped the metrobus extension will reduce increased traffic levels caused by the new developments proposed for the former Filton Airfield.
