Wednesday 17 Sep 2025
Diversion route for road users as Frome railway bridge work takes place
- Region & Route:
- Wales & Western: Western
Network Rail will soon begin refurbishing Portway railway bridge in Frome, with the work set to close a road in the Somerset town for seven weeks.
The bridge, built in the 1970s, carries the railway over the A362 and needs attention to prevent faults from developing in the future.
Additional steel will be installed on the underside of the bridge to more efficiently distribute the weight of trains, which are now faster and run more frequently than when the bridge was opened. The bridge will be grit-blasted, repainted and new anti-collision markings will be added.
Work takes place from Friday 19 September until Friday 28 November. During the core period of the project from 6am on Monday 6 October to midnight on Monday 24 November, the A362 under the bridge will be closed to all traffic. A diversion will be clearly signposted and traffic lights will be in place to manage junctions between Wallbridge, Great Western Street and The Retreat. Pedestrian access under the bridge will remain open.
Network Rail lead portfolio manager Vaheesan Maheswaran said:
“We need to complete this essential work to make sure trains can continue to run safely and efficiently for decades to come.
“I'd like to thank road users and local residents for their patience in advance as we carry out this work which will benefit passengers travelling from Frome long into the future.
Morgan Sindall project manager Karl Butler said:
“We’re proud to be supporting Network Rail in delivering these essential works to the Portway railway bridge in Frome. While we understand the road closure may cause temporary disruption, we’re working closely with local partners to minimise impact and ensure the project is completed safely and efficiently.
“The improvements being made will help secure the long-term reliability of the railway infrastructure, benefiting passengers and the wider community for years to come.”
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