TADPOLE Lane closes on Monday for the rest of the year to allow for essential bridge maintenance.

The bridge taking the road over the River Ray will be replaced and widened to two lanes, while the bridge over the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, which is a Grade II listed structure, will be repaired.

The road will be completely closed at the bridges for the entire eight months and all traffic will be diverted via The Pry, Purton Road, Thamesdown Drive and Oakhurst Way.

The replacement of the river bridge will be completed first.

Access to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway will be maintained at all times, and a temporary footbridge will be provided across the river to give pedestrian and cyclist access to the railway from the Swindon side.

It will not be possible to allow pedestrians or cyclists across the rail bridge while it is being repaired.

While the rail bridge is the responsibility of Swindon Council, the river bridge is the joint responsibility of Swindon Council and Wiltshire Council.

Both have arranged for the work to take place at the same time to minimise the length and scale of the disruption and reduce the cost.

The work to repair the Grade II-listed rail bridge, which is more than 130 years old, will include strengthening and stabilising the embankments on either side, repairing the cracks, cleaning and repointing the brickwork with lime mortar, and repainting the metalwork.

Gwillam Lloyd, head of Highways for Swindon Council, said: “The river bridge is only single carriageway at the moment and is not up to current highway standards.

“The rail bridge is showing its age but when the work is finished it will be as good as new.

“We understand that the closure will be inconvenient for many people but this work has to be done to keep these crossings safe for the future.”

For more information about the work, call the council on 01793 463725.