YATE residents are being warned that traffic chaos from the closure of a bridge over the M4 will last until at least the end of the year.

National Highways closed the A432 Badminton Road bridge on the main road between Yate and Bristol earlier this month after finding 'accelerated deterioration and cracking' to the south-east underside of the structure, which was built in 1966.

Diversions have been put in place while detailed investigation work goes ahead but long queues and delays have been reported by frustrated drivers.

Yate mayor Cheryl Kirby said: "We share the concerns surrounding the closure of the bridge and all residents have our sympathies.

"The closure is due to the National Highways decision.

"We encourage them to complete the necessary work as soon as possible.

"This has had a big impact on the community, and we are working closely with South Gloucestershire Council officers to address the problems that residents have already shared.

"We thank residents for their understanding and ask that they continue to share problems in order for us to tackle problems as they arrived.”

Yate MP Luke Hall said: "This is such a vital route, not only for commuters, but public transport and our emergency services.

"I have written to National Highways making it clear that the repairs need to be carried out as a priority.

"I will of course offer National Highways and South Gloucestershire Council support to ensure disruption is kept as low as possible for the community."

SGC, which looks after the road network but not the bridge itself, says it is monitoring and reviewing the situation daily and is already planning what it needs to do when schools return in September, with the influx of parents and teachers on the roads.

In an update on Friday, National Highways, which maintains the bridge, said nighttime lane closures on the motorway were now in place for the inspections but that the earliest the A432 could reopen would be December.

A spokesperson said: “We have made the decision to close the structure as this will limit any further damage whilst we undertake detailed investigations into the nature and extent of the defects and assess their impact on the structure.

“The structural investigations are detailed and specialist, and works are being undertaken by specialist contractors.

“The works involve identifying potential defects using digital scanning and then drilling into the structure to check the condition of the post-tensioning system using a range of techniques.

“We are currently working on the underside of the structure at night under lane closures on the M4 and are looking to accelerate the topside works, before assessing the data and looking at all available options for the future of the structure. 

“The further investigation works and assessment of the structure’s condition will take time to complete during which the structure will remain closed to all vehicular traffic.

“The earliest that a decision can be made regarding future restrictions is likely to be December 2023.”

In a written reply to a question from opposition Conservative group leader Cllr Sam Bromiley at a full council meeting last Wednesday, July 19, SGC leader Claire Young said the authority’s priority was to minimise disruption.

She said: “Daily, through the morning and evening peak, officers have been deployed on site at strategic junctions to monitor usage and queueing.

“The team meets daily to discuss observations and has started to consider what mitigations are required now and in September when schools return after the summer break.”

Cllr Young said action may need to be taken at three pinch points – Coalsack Lane/Ruffet Road, Henfield crossroads and the A46/Codrington Road junction, the last of which will have temporary signals installed, while options are being developed for the other two locations.