Gloucestershire County Council's highways crews are carrying out essential maintenance work to the A38 Naas Lane Bridge in Gloucester from today until Friday 3 April.

Naas Lane Bridge is a busy commuter route connecting Quedgeley with Grange and Kingsway.

Used by thousands of motorists, the bridge is subject to heavy wear and tear, and is therefore in need of a complete refurbishment.

This means the surfacing, kerbs, footpaths; joints and waterproofing will all be removed and replaced. Since the waterproofing contains asbestos, the bridge will also be closed for pedestrians.

The essential maintenance work will ensure the bridge remains fit for use for many years to come. To repair the bridge as quickly as possible, there will be a 24/7 road closure in place from 6am on 16 March until 6pm on 3 April.

During this time a bus gate located on Valley Gardens, Kingsway will open to all traffic as an alternative option. The bus gate will be managed by two way traffic lights and the enforcement fines will be suspended for the duration of the works.

Heavy goods vehicles (HGV's) are advised to use the official diversion route as the bridge is subject to height restrictions.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flood, said: "Making sure our road network is as efficient and safe for all road users is a top priority for the county council.

"I understand the 24/7 closure is going to cause inconvenience for drivers, however this work is significant and much-needed to ensure local residents and visitors remain safe on Gloucestershire's roads."

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council and local councillor for Quedgeley, said: "This popular bridge is an important asset for our city, connecting thousands of residents, commuters and visitors to Quedgeley and Kingsway everyday. It's crucial that safety repairs are carried out in good time in order to keep our county moving. I'd like to thank local people and road users for their patience while we complete this essential work."

Cllr Dave Norman, local councillor for Grange and Kingsway, said: "It's important that we ensure drivers and pedestrians remain safe when travelling along Naas Lane Bridge. This safety work will allow traffic to continue to flow through our county and I would like to thank motorists for their patience while this work is carried out."

What's the diversion route? (suitable for heavies)

Take the B4008 Bristol Road and continue on the road all the way to the A38 junction. At the junction turn right in the direction of Tuffley and follow the A38 to the junction at Kingsway. Take a slip road to Kingsway and at the roundabout take the second exit in the direction of Newhaven Road. Continue on the road to the next roundabout. Diversion is the same in reverse.