The Humber Bridge is set to close to allow essential repairs to take place over the weekend.
This marks only the third time the structure in Hull, East Yorkshire, has been closed during its lifespan, according to Hull Daily Mail.
Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will be unable to use the bridge from 2100 on Saturday 9 October till 0700 the following day so that work, including changing two bearings, can be carried out.
Engineers have chosen this weekend for the repairs, which will secure the bridge deck to the towers, as weather conditions look favourable.
Changing the bearings will help the structure carry the weight of traffic and allow the 2.22-km long suspension bridge to move safely in inclement weather.
A spokesperson for Humber Bridge said: “We appreciate that closing the bridge at any point will cause inconvenience to some, but by choosing to do it between the hours of 2100 and 0700 on a weekend, our aim is to minimise disruption as far as possible.”
Drivers and cyclists were advised to avoid non-essential journeys, as they would be diverted around the Humber estuary. The route by road involves going to Goole, 29 miles away from Hull and 53 miles from Grimsby, adding a significant amount of time on to trips.
Inspections have been carried out underneath the road deck to determine the damage caused by Storm Ciara in February 2020, when winds of 80 miles per hour hit the UK’s longest single-span suspension bridge.
However, it was determined that bearings should now be replaced ahead of winter to prevent further harm to the structure.
The iconic structure has been critical to the area since it opened in 1981, helping the Humber region with regards to its commercial and industrial status. More than 10 million cars cross it every year, showing just how important it has become to the area.
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