MULTI-MILLION-POUND works to replace a bridge over the M27 will begin in March.

Highways England are behind the £19 million plans to knock down and rebuild the bridge on the A3057 that travels over the major motorway.

As previously reported, the M27 and the A3057 bridge will be closed during several weekends over the course of the project to aid demolition and lifting work. The bridge, which is 'degrading', will now be open to drivers by August 2019 according to the plans, having previously been scheduled to finish by October 2019.

The bridge was first built in 1974, and is formed of two bridges side by side, used by more than 12,000 vehicles each day, travelling between Nursling and Upton.

The condition of the bridge has been monitored by road bosses, and after 40 years of 'wear and tear', the bridges now can't cope with the traffic.

Highways England project manager Merwin Mann, said: "The existing bridge is ion need of replacement and this is what we'll be doing over the next 18 months.

"We will replace the bridge in stages – each section will be built in the site compound nearby and lifted into place.

"By doing this, it will reduce the number of closured needed to install the new bridge."

Road bosses have said that the M27 and A3057 will need to be closed for three weekends over the course of the project.

Merwin added: "The first one will be in July this year, and we will publicise these well in advance and diversion routes will be well signposted."

The bridge, which runs over the motorway between junctions three and four, will have the west side demolished first over a weekend in July.

The east bridge will then carry the A3057 in both directions using temporary traffic lights, while the new bridge is built alongside it.

In January 2019, the deck of the new bridge will be lifted into place and work will take place to get it ready for traffic.

Finally, the east bridge will then be demolished in July 2019, before the new bridge is fully open to two-way traffic in August 2019.

Structural monitoring equipment is in place to provide early warning of any further deterioration. Construction work itself begins next month.