RESIDENTS and businesses are being reminded that essential maintenance work at the Bromley Heath Viaduct begins at 6am on Monday, July 24.

A section of the ring road will also be fully closed from Saturday, July 22 in order to put a traffic management system in place.

Work on the Bromley Heath Viaduct, which was originally built in the 1960s, was approved by South Gloucestershire councillors earlier this year.

Although it was originally scheduled to last for up to 52 weeks, this has been reduced to 33 weeks after the council secured additional £2.8million funding.

Cllr Colin Hunt, Cabinet Member responsible for transport, said: “We know this is one of the busiest sections of the A4174 and the work is expected to cause significant delays, especially during peak times.

"We are doing everything we can to mitigate this, including securing additional funding to reduce the overall timescale of the work."

The extent of the work requires a section of the southern dual carriageway to be closed to all traffic for the duration of the project. This is because the structure will be too weak to safely carry any traffic until the maintenance is complete.

A contraflow will be in place for traffic, which will reduce the current two lanes in both directions down to one lane in each direction.

The A4174 ring road will be closed in both directions from the Wick Wick roundabout (at the junction with the A432 Badminton Road) to Hambrook lights from 8pm on Saturday, July 22 until 6am on Monday, July 24 when the ring road will reopen with the contraflow in place over the viaduct.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said: “These closures are to allow for the traffic management to be put in place. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

To help alleviate traffic queuing on local roads, traffic management will be in operation from 6am on Monday, July 24.

This includes closures to some local roads, plus adjustments to traffic lights and road signs in the surrounding area.

Traffic heading to the M4 motorway will also be directed east to junction 19 of the M4 rather than using junction 18. Signs are in place to alert drivers.

The council are encouraging people to think about changing their travel plans to help ease congestion.

Cycling, walking and car sharing are all being encouraged, and there will be extra buses available on the number 18 during peak travel times.

A park and ride facility will also be in operation at Lyde Green, in Emersons Green.

Cllr Hunt said: "I would encourage people to use alternative routes or take public transport wherever possible.

"For people travelling by road, the advice is to allow twice as long for your journey.

"We understand that this will cause disruption and disturbance to residents, communities and businesses alike and would like to apologise in advance and kindly ask for your patience while this essential maintenance work is taking place."

He added: “Our staff will monitor junctions, traffic lights and yellow junction boxes when the contraflow goes into operation to see if any further improvements can be made to aid traffic flow and ease congestion.”

Full background on the viaduct scheme is available online www.southglos.gov.uk/bhviaduct