THE 10-week full closure of Evesham’s Abbey Bridge will now take place in September, after it was confirmed the rebuilding project is up to three months behind schedule.

Your Worcester News reported last month how bad weather had caused major hold-ups in the £9 million scheme and transport chiefs confirmed on Tuesday that prolonged periods of flooding, snow and freezing weather had taken their toll.

The news came just two weeks after the county council denied the timetable of work had been affected, despite a civil engineer from bridge contractors Hochtief admitting the project was behind at a meeting of VECTA (Vale of Evesham Commerce and Tourism Association).

The 10-week closure is now planned for September meaning it will not be during the school summer holidays as planned, although an exact date is unlikely to be confirmed until late May.

Peter Blake, Worcestershire County Council’s head of integrated transport, said: “Clearly we have had a prolonged period of bad weather. It has had an impact on the construction of three months.”

He said they had not made the announcement until now to ensure they had a feasible option to speed up the work.

“Clear communication is a key part to ensure the town remains open for business,” Mr Blake said.

“We’re as committed as ever to this, however, we haven’t been in a position to confirm what additional steps would be taken to speed up work and when the 10-week closure period could take place until now.”

In another new development, a temporary pedestrian bridge will be installed, which Hochtief says will allow work to take place on both sides of the Abbey Bridge, speeding the project up.

The two-metre-wide bridge will be installed on Sunday, April 28, and open to the public on Tuesday, May 7.

Despite the delays, it is believed the bridge will be completed before Christmas.

Mr Blake added: “I’d like to ask people to continue to support traders in Evesham while this essential replacement work continues.”

For updates, visit worcestershire.gov.uk/abbeybridge or check the regular Twitter updates @worcscc. A notice board on Abbey Road and newsletter will also feature bridge updates.