A MAJOR new bridge in the county is carrying traffic for the first time ever next week.

Carrington Bridge will welcome motorists on May 17 as Worcestershire County Council opens it to traffic.

Vehicles will be using this new part of the bridge over the River Severn and the new carriageway along Temeside Way to enable improvement works to be made to the existing carriageway.

The steel for Carrington Bridge was lifted into place late in 2020 and since then, works have taken place on the bridge decking and surfacing to enable the upcoming switchover of traffic.

A little-known feature of the Southern Link Road works is the extension of Powick viaduct, which will allow flood water to flow underneath the new carriageway

Traffic will switch to the new road on Monday for work to the old road and widening of the foot/cycle way

Jon Fraser from Worcestershire County Council Highways said: "The new part of Carrington Bridge being open for traffic is huge milestone in this major scheme, we’re delivering to dual from M5 to Powick Roundabout.

"Whilst there is still more to be done on the fourth and final phase of our scheme, this marks a big step forward.

"With traffic being diverted onto the new bridge extension, it will enable us to concentrate works on the existing bridge and carriageway to improve the surface and the make the foot and cycle way much wider."

To allow the switchover of traffic to take place onto the new carriageway, there will be a closure in place on Temeside Way, in both directions from 9pm on Friday, May 14 to 5.30am on Monday, May 17.

A diversion will be in place and clearly signed during the closure.

As part of the switchover, there will be a reconfiguration of the traffic entering and exiting both the Ketch and Powick roundabouts, which may cause some disruption.

On May 14, the foot/cycleway alongside Temeside Way will close and will remain closed until the completion of the scheme, to allow widening works to take place.

A diversion will be in place via Diglis Bridge and signage is already in place for cyclists and pedestrians ahead of the closure.

These works are subject to change and any amendments to the schedule of the works will be advertised on the County Council website and social media channels.

Works are also set to continue into the summer on the Ketch and Powick roundabouts, as well as a range of footway and carriageway resurfacing works.

For more information about the overall scheme, please visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/slr