THE old Wye Bridge is on schedule to re-open before Christmas, the Mayor of Chepstow was told during a visit to the works.

Cllr Dale Rooke was joined by fellow Chepstow town councillor Ned Heywood and Monmouthshire county councillors Armand Watts and David Watts for the tour led by Monmouthshire County Council’s project engineer Steve Baldwin.

They were looking to question the experts for the reasons for the delay in reopening the bridge.

Cllr Rooke (Lab, Thornwell) told the Review: “It was very welcome to be able to go and speak to someone about the reasons for the delay.

“Until they started stripping the paint they didn’t really know what they were up against.

“It’s extended the timeframe because of the specialist methods they’ve had to employ.

“All the structural work has been completed so now there is just the painting but that is dependent on the weather.

“They think they will be finished by December 22.”

The council has shared the £700,000 costs of the maintenance painting and essential structural repairs with Gloucestershire County Council. 

Technical difficulties, poor weather and exceptionally high tides have caused delays but the works will ensure the safety of the bridge so that it can carry traffic well into the future.

Monmouthshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for highways, Cllr Bryan Jones (Con, Usk) said: “This much-loved and attractive bridge has connected two communities, two counties and two countries for nearly 200 years.

“I’m sure that Chepstow, the surrounding area and indeed the whole of Monmouthshire will enthusiastically embrace its bi-centenary celebrations next year.”

Despite the potential good news on the re-opening of the bridge, Cllr Rooke said he is not confident it will do much to relieve the congestion on the A48 heading out of the Forest.

He said: “I’m not sure the closure of the bridge has had much of an impact.

“There still needs to be pressure on all the relevant authorities to resolve the problems.

“Recently the lights were out at Station Road and traffic flowed much more freely.”