New signs have been erected to enforce a weight limit which has been imposed on a busy Oxford bridge.

It was revealed on Monday that vehicles crossing the Donnington Bridge in South Oxford would be handed new rules after Oxfordshire County Council engineers "carefully studied" the foundations.

The monitoring work at the city bridge has led to the new rules being put forward as a "precautionary measure" due to the condition of its structure.

A structural weight limit initially restricting the maximum weight of vehicles to 7.5 tonnes was implemented and took effect from Tuesday, 20 August.

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The Donnington Bridge in Oxford.The Donnington Bridge in Oxford.

Now several new signs have been implemented at both ends of the bridge to warn drivers about the new weight limit.

One notice on Abingdon Road said: “Weak bridge half-a-mile ahead.”

The sign also listed the 7.5 tonne limit.

As well as affecting heavy vehicles such as HGVs, the change has also had a key impact on bus services.

Cabinet member for transport management, Andrew Gant, said: "We will progress this issue as quickly as we can as we are conscious that it’ll disrupt larger vehicles. We’ll be guided by the experts in terms of what happens next and we will keep the public fully informed.”

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Labour county councillor for the Isis division, Brad Baines, said: "I am extremely concerned by proposals to implement a 7.5 tonne restriction on Donny Bridge from tomorrow (Tuesday, August 20). 

"This will sever the No.46 bus route connecting Templars Square, Donnington and South Oxford. Plus why are we finding out so late?”

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