A MAJOR scheme to waterproof Westminster Bridge in Ellesmere Port will begin this summer.

Work on the town centre structure, which spans the HootonHelsby railway line, will start on July 2 and run for 13 weeks to the end of September.

Kieran Collins, borough district engineer, said during the work the bridge will remain open to traffic moving in one direction.

He explained in a report: 'The bridge was constructed in 1961 and requires necessary and urgent maintenance work.

'The existing movement joints are in a poor condition and are leaking water through to the bridge piers below, causing staining, cracking and spalling of the concrete.

'These joints will be replaced during the waterproofing contract and this will halt the deterioration of the piers below. Once this has been halted, repairs to the piers can be programmed.'

Mr Collins said the repair scheme will be carried out in two halves to enable the bridge to stay open to traffic in one direction - though he did not say which.

He added: 'The works are programmed to minimise disruption as much as possible and have the best possible solution to what is a difficult scheme to carry out in a densely populated area with a high traffic volume road.

'This will cause disruption to users of the A5032 Whitby Road/Station Road but pedestrian access in both directions will be maintained at all times,' he said.

Concrete testing of the bridge deck will be carried out while the present surfacing is removed, and the areas requiring attention will be made good before the new waterproofing is applied.