Bea Swallow – West of England 23.12.2025
WWII bridge to be demolished amid £11m project
A historic bridge which played a vital role in a town’s war effort will be demolished when the railway tracks fall quiet on Christmas Day.
Winterstoke Road Bridge in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, was built in 1941 to provide access to the RAF’s aeroplane production factory in Oldmixon.
North Somerset Council said due to its age, “it is now approaching a condition where, if not replaced, it would have to permanently close within five to 10 years”.
It is being replaced with an £11m new bridge, which will stretch over a mainline railway between Bristol and Taunton, and is scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Winterstoke Road Bridge closed to traffic at the end of November, with pedestrians able to use a replacement bridge.
The old bridge is demolished on Christmas Day to coincide with seasonal railway closures.
Councillor Mike Bell, council leader, described the road and foot crossing as a “mainstay” for communities.
“In recent years the bridge has enabled around 20,000 journeys each day, testament to the part it plays in our local transport network,” he added.
“It is a crucial route, which is why it’s important that the ageing bridge is replaced with one built to last for the next 120 years.”
The new bridge will include improved pedestrian and cycle access, and support heavier traffic by removing the current 7.5 tonne weight restriction – allowing buses, emergency vehicles, and larger goods vehicles to use the route again.
Octavius Infrastructure and the council are delivering the £11m replacement project, which is mainly funded by the Ministry of Defence.
Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, the authority’s heritage champion, added: “The wartime stories of Winterstoke Road, the factories and the iconic Bristol Beaufighter will live on in the pages of our rich local history.”
During World War Two, Oldmixon was chosen as one of three locations in Weston to expand aeroplane production, and in 1941 the factory’s first Bristol Beaufighter aircraft took to the air.
The bridge opened to public traffic after the war.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 