Winterstoke Road bridge was originally built between 1941 and 1943 by the War Office (now Ministry of Defence). It was built to provide easy access to the RAF’s aeroplane factory in Weston-super-Mare.
Access provided by the bridge was critical in supporting the war effort as the factory produced the Bristol Beaufighter aircraft.
The bridge was built by William Cowlin & Sons, with nearby railway sidings built by George Pollard & Co of Taunton using steel produced by Lysaght.
In the early 1950s the Ministry of Defence opened the bridge to the public, renaming the route Winterstoke Road.
In the intervening years Winterstoke Road has served as an important transport route in Weston-super-Mare.
Meanwhile, the aircraft industry continued in the local area for many years including sites for aircraft maintenance and Westland Helicopters on the site of the former RAF Weston-super-Mare.
In 2018, the age and condition of the bridge meant that a 7.5T weight restriction was put in place.
Now that the bridge is over 80 years old, it must be replaced if this important transport route in Weston-super-Mare is to remain open.