A BRIDGE on a major route in east Tynedale will be closed to vehicles for three weeks.

Ovingham bridge will be closed from August 12 to September 1 while footbridge deck replacement is carried out by Northumberland County Council, as part of its annual investment into roads and transport in the county.

The existing footbridge deck will be removed and replaced in sections, starting at the north end of the bridge and working south.

Meanwhile the vehicular route across the bridge will be closed to traffic and pedestrians will be able to use that section to cross while work is ongoing.

Cyclists will be able to use the temporary pedestrian route, but they will be required to dismount and walk across.

And the footpaths underneath the footbridges will have to be closed for periods of time while work is being carried out overhead, and will be reopened as soon as the section is completed.

The work will be carried out between 7am and 4pm, but the bridge will be closed to vehicles 24 hours per day and seven days a week until the work is complete.

Signs to let people know of the upcoming closure are due to be put in place over the next week.

A diversion route will take motorists via Wylam bridge and Crawcrook.