Major Six-Month Maintenance Project Planned For Medina Way Bridge

Major maintenance works are set to begin on Newport's Medina Way Bridge next month, with motorists warned to expect lane closures and delays.

Island Roads will replace all 16 existing bridge bearings and install two additional bearings as part of a project expected to last around six months.

Work is scheduled to begin on September 28, with a planned break over Christmas and New Year.

The bearings sit between the bridge deck and its supports, allowing the structure to safely expand, contract and move under traffic and changing temperatures.

Island Roads said the scheme has been developed over the past two years following inspections and assessments by specialist bridge engineers.

Project Manager Luke Ward said: “Medina Way Bridge is the largest highway bridge structure managed by Island Roads and replacing the bearings is a highly complex engineering operation.

“The bridge supports around 28,500 traffic movements daily and, unlike many maintenance activities, these works require the bridge deck to be temporarily lifted and supported on specialist jacking systems while the existing bearings are removed and replaced.”

The biggest disruption will come from temporary lane closures while sections of the bridge are supported on jacks.

One lane is expected to close for approximately five weeks on each carriageway, although the northbound and southbound restrictions will take place at different times.

The southbound closure is currently expected from mid-November, while the northbound closure is planned from mid-January following the Christmas and New Year break.

Island Roads said one carriageway will remain unrestricted while work takes place on the other bridge deck.

Jacking operations will also require phased overnight closures, with further nighttime closures planned for resurfacing and the installation of movement joints.

Mr Ward added: “We fully appreciate that reducing Medina Way to a single lane in one direction will cause delays and disruption.

“However, these restrictions are a direct consequence of the temporary structural limitations that exist while the bridge is supported on jacks and the bearings are being replaced.

“We have carefully considered alternative options, but there is no reasonably practicable way of carrying out these works safely without implementing temporary lane closures.”

Island Roads said the project has deliberately been scheduled outside the peak tourism season and further updates will be issued before and during the work.