TRAFFIC will travel over a new temporary bridge on the A34 from tomorrow as the next stage of the £44m scheme to replace Wolvercote Viaduct begins.

Vehicles are currently using the existing north and southbound carriageways with narrow lanes.

But from Sunday night, traffic heading south will divert on to a new temporary two-lane structure, while drivers travelling in the opposite direction will move on to the former southbound carriageway, so work can begin to demolish and replace the current northbound structure.

Once this is complete and open to traffic, the old southbound viaduct will be removed and new piers built in its place to support the deck from the temporary bridge, which will be slid on to the new piers in the final phase of the work.

Average-speed cameras – set at 40mph – will go up on the stretch for the first time since construction began last summer.

The switchover will start from 10pm on Sunday and be complete by Monday evening, although traffic will be kept moving at all times.

Project manager Ian Johnson said: “Following the switching of the A34 carriageways we shall then start on the demolition of the old northbound carriageway and the construction of the new northbound structure. The demolition will involve cutting the beams and lifting them to ground level.

“For drivers’ own safety and that of the workforce, we ask road users to take extra care when driving through the new road layout.”