A BUSY road in the city will close tonight so a 113-year-old bridge bridge can be refurbished.

Caerleon Road in Newport will close tonight, July 20, so Network Rail can carry out essential work on the railway bridge above the road.

The bridge will benefit from steel work repairs and stone work repairs to the bridge abutments, plus deep cleaning and painting.

Caerleon Road will reopen at 7am on Saturday, July 21.

It will also be closed overnight from 9pm on Sunday July 22 to 5.30am on Monday July 23 for Network Rail to carry out preparatory work, including completing structural surveys and site set up.

Alternative routes and diversions will be put in place.

Work is part of a two-phase upgrade plan, with the first phase of the bridge starting on tonight and lasting until November 30.

The second half will begin in January 2019 and is set to last until March 2019.

Lee Ackerman, project manager for Network Rail in Wales and Borders, said: “This essential work will help restore the bridge for years to come.

"We have been working closely with Newport City Council to minimise disruption to the local community and road users, and we will be completing the work in two phases to avoid closing the road for an extended period.

“We would like to thank everyone in advance for their patience while we complete this essential work.”