Works to repair Cleveland Bridge are continuing apace with removal of the damaged concrete trusses supporting the deck and a temporary footway laid on the west side.

On the opposite side of the bridge the heritage kerbs and drainage have been removed.

The work on the Grade II* listed structure, which carries 17,000 vehicles a day, is needed to safeguard its future.

Following a detailed inspection by engineers which have shown the extents are worse than previously identified, every repair has been assessed to decide how the works will be carried out. These include structural repairs that require extreme care and so a limited number can be completed at any one time.

There are a series of repairs scheduled to take place from August 9 to August 23 and from September 13 to September 16 that will mean the bridge will need to be closed to emergency vehicles.

Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge, but cyclists will need to dismount.

Since the bridge first closed to vehicles and at all other times apart from between these dates, access remains for emergency service vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: "We cannot stress enough that repairing and protecting this Grade II* listed structure is an enormous task requiring the greatest care and careful planning.

"We have identified two periods in August and September when we have no choice but to close the bridge to emergency vehicles so that we can safely complete certain repairs, however pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to walk across. We are in contact with the emergency services who have assessed the alternative route and option of stationing vehicles elsewhere if required.

"Our project team and contractor are working hard and are reviewing options to maintain our original three-month closure programme and, as always, we are grateful for people's patience with the disruption caused."

Diversion routes for Bath city centre and through traffic on the A36 via South Gloucestershire are available on the council's Cleveland Bridge webpage.

The £3.8 million project, funded through the Government's Highways Challenge Fund, began in May with traffic filtered over the river crossing by temporary traffic lights as scaffolding was erected.

Any changes to the programme timeline will be posted on www.bathnes.gov.uk/clevelandbridge as work goes on. You can also read regular progress updates by clicking HERE: the Cleveland Bridge site