Farewell to the Historic Winterstoke Road Bridge

It was during the war Sir Winston Churchill formed the Ministry of Aircraft Production. The Ministry worked to secure materials and created supply lines needed to ensure enough planes were built and deployed to the RAF.

Oldmixon was chosen as one of the locations to expand aeroplane production and in 1941 the factory's first Bristol Beaufighter aircraft took to the air.

In the same year construction of Winterstoke Road Bridge began. It was designed to support the war effort, providing easy access to vehicles and workers traveling to the RAF's factory.

The original 31m by 12m bridge was swung into place over the rail lines in autumn 1941, but cracks appeared in the concrete and repair works had to be completed. By 1943 workers buses were finally allowed to cross the bridge, albeit with a speed limit of 5mph.

After the war the bridge opened to public traffic. It was around this time that the area produced aluminium 'prefab' bungalows to help tackle the post-war housing shortage. The aircraft industry continued to be prominent in the area for many years, including sites for aircraft maintenance and Westland Helicopters.

Until the present day the bridge has continued to be important to residents and visitors alike, vital to all kinds of journeys as the area has grown, offering a connection between communities their homes, schools, jobs and leisure.

Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said: "Winterstoke Road Bridge has been a mainstay throughout the lives of Weston residents, first in its integral role in our aviation history, then later serving homes and businesses across the area.

"In recent years the bridge has enabled around 20,000 journeys each day, testament to the part it plays in our local transport network. It is a crucial route, which is why it's important that the aging bridge is replaced with one built to last for the next 120 years.

"By replacing Winterstoke Road Bridge, North Somerset is making a key, long-term investment into local infrastructure, an investment that will maintain and expand current road capacity whilst also building the resilience and reliability needed to prepare for future growth.

"I am also pleased add that the new bridge will support more sustainable journeys by foot and by bike, as well as lifting current weight restrictions for heavier vehicles such as buses."

Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, North Somerset's Heritage Champion, added: "The original Winterstoke Road Bridge is a monument to the long-standing pride that our area has in local aviation history, as well as our collective appreciation for the role that the RAF has played.

"Though we must now say goodbye to the historic structure and make way for a new bridge, the wartime stories of Winterstoke Road, Oldmixon and the iconic Bristol Beaufighter will live on in the pages of our local rich history."

Winterstoke Road Bridge closed to traffic at the end of November. The bridge will be demolished on Christmas Day.

You can find photos of the historic Winterstoke Road Bridge below and find out more about the bridge's replacement at n-somerset.gov.uk/winterstokeroadbridge