A bridge formerly described as an ‘eyesore’ is undergoing a £4.5m makeover, following a community campaign.

Renovations to the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, which connects Frodsham and Sutton Weaver, began in June and are well on track to be complete by next autumn.

The huge engineering project, which includes the replacement of the deck and pedestrian walkways, will extend the bridge’s life span by 50 years so that it can continue to carry its capacity of 40 tonnes .

Project manager Clive Mitchell, of the Canal and River Trust, said: “The bridge was originally built in 1924. It was strengthened in the 1970s but those repairs started to fail.

“The main reason for replacing the deck was so that we didn’t have to introduce a weight restriction, and while we’re there we’re repainting it and repairing the steel works as well.

“As you can expect with a bridge of that age we are finding more repairs that we have to deal with as we go along. About 20 per cent of the work is complete at this stage.”

Former Frodsham town councillor Tom Reynolds spearheaded the community’s campaign to see the bridge renovated, and even offered to repaint it himself along with an army of volunteers.

Mr Reynolds said he would have preferred for there to have been a competition in which people suggested ideas for a new bridge.

“At least we are getting it restored and getting a clean and tidy bridge which is no longer an eyesore,” he added.

Road traffic was diverted to a temporary two-lane bridge across the navigation, which runs next to the swing bridge, in early September.

Mr Reynolds added that they were on track to reopen the bridge to traffic in the Summer.

Police are appealing to drivers to comply with the no right turn towards Sutton Weaver at the bridge works.

PC Dave Walton, of the Western Rural Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “The police enforcement on traffic flow restrictions is following safety and driving complaints at the bridge works on the A56.

“A number of near misses are being reported as a result of drivers ignoring signage and turning right towards Sutton weaver .

“Police are working with highways to monitor the busy junction and will enforce restrictions if found to be ignored.”