WORK is almost complete on the new bridge after 4 days of road closure on Station Road.

Station Road remains closed as works continue on the latest stage of the Northern Inner Distributor Road (NIDR) project.

The new Kingston Loop Bridge is in the process of being lowered back into place after it was removed by workers earlier this year.

The bridge has new black, metal side panels but work still needs to be completed by Somerset County Councils contractor, Carillion.

The former rail bridge is being converted into a road bridge in works that will see Station Road closed until 11.30pm on Friday, September 23.

Should the works run over schedule Station Road will be closed next week.

A number of alternative arrangements will be in place during the closure, similar to those in place when the bridge was removed back in May.

For vehicles, a signed diversion route is in place via the Obridge Viaduct, although, as with any road closure, drivers are free to seek their own alternatives.

For pedestrians, access will be maintained during working hours (6.30am to 11.30pm) using steps and a ramp via Whitehall. Outside of working hours, one of the footpaths beneath the bridge has been reopened for pedestrian access.

The new bridge has been designed to preserve the look of the Station Road area as much as possible, and the historic steel edge beams have been refurbished and will be returned with the new bridge.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “This is another key milestone and we’re all looking forward to having the new bridge in place. It means an unavoidable road closure, but motorists, cyclists and pedestrians showed great patience during the previous one and we hope they will be able to do the same again.”

The Kingston Loop Bridge is the last major structural component of the NIDR to complete, although other work remains.

This includes surfacing near the new bridge; surfacing, lining and lighting between the new bridge and Staplegrove roundabout; signing and lining to prevent parking on the new route; completion of the Firepool Bridge, and general landscaping.

The council expects the contractor to complete the new road by the end of 2016.

The NIDR is a multi-million pound project commissioned by Somerset County Council and carried out by the construction contractor Carillion to unlock the Firepool regeneration site where there are ambitious plans for a riverside business, residential and shopping development.

The project will be providing a link from Priory Avenue to Staplegrove Road, it should also help to ease congestion in the town centre and on Priorswood Road.