(Image: East Riding of Yorkshire Council)
A 20-tonne bridge in East Yorkshire has reopened to traffic following a major £1 million refurbishment.
Weel Bridge, which spans the River Hull and connects Beverley with the village of Weel, reopened on Friday, September 25 after months of engineering work.
The 73-year-old aluminium structure was upgraded to improve its strength, safety and accessibility, with the aim of extending its lifespan for years to come.
Councillor Paul West, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "I'm delighted we've finally been able to reopen Weel Bridge following its major overhaul.
"Thank you to local residents and drivers, especially villagers in Weel and to people who use the Weel HWRS, for bearing with us while we completed this scheme.
"The temporary closure was unavoidable, but we now have a much stronger and safer bridge for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to use."
The bridge was removed in April and transported to Blyth, near Doncaster, for specialist refurbishment by council contractor Esh Construction.
It returned to Beverley on September 12 with fresh blue paintwork and underwent final installation and safety checks before reopening.
The nearby Beverley Household Waste Recycling Site, which closed during the works for safety reasons, is due to reopen at 10am today (Saturday, September 26).
The refurbishment included structural repairs, mechanical and electrical upgrades, improvements to the bridge control system, and parapet refurbishment.
Additional works included road realignment to improve visibility, as well as widening the shared footway and cycleway.
Weel Bridge, built in 1953, is a bascule bridge, meaning it can be raised and lowered to allow boat traffic to pass along the river.
While the bridge is now open to traffic, engineers will continue work on its modern operating system, which controls the raising and lowering mechanism.
The bridge remains subject to a three-tonne weight limit and a 3.3-metre height restriction.
The last major improvements to Weel Bridge were carried out in 2012, though it has been closed for shorter periods since then for minor works.