A SIX-WEEK project to carry out essential maintenance work to Hexham’s Tyne Bridge is due to get under way later this month.

Northumberland County Council said the restoration project on the scheduled ancient monument was necessary to preserve the structure for future generations. Dating back to 1793, the bridge provides a vital highway link between the town and the A69.

But unlike the closure of the town’s railway bridge in June last year, which demanded a diversion via the notorious West Road junction off the A69, the council said most of the work to the Tyne bridge would be carried out overnight.

Just one lane of the carriageway will be closed between 8pm and 6am, with traffic lights in operation.

Outside these hours, both the road and footpaths will be fully open to vehicles and pedestrians.

The work is due to start on July 24 and is expected to take a maximum of six weeks to complete.

The project will involve repointing the bridge along with some concrete testing to ensure the integrity of the structure.

Daytime work, which will have no impact on traffic, will also involve the use of a pontoon in the River Tyne to allow staff to access the bridge piers to repoint any substandard areas of mortar.

Due to the location of the weir, there will be river rescue personnel in attendance at all times.

Engineers will also repair a section of eroded embankment downstream of the bridge and replace the deep water notices on the fish pass that were swept away in the winter floods.