THE main A378 through Langport has re-opened after being closed for urgent repairs to the railway bridge.

Network Rail has been working for almost a month to repair the damaged crossing – which has seen drivers facing diversions and delays.

But this morning, commuters are free to travel under the bridge again in their vehicles.

However, more closures are coming – but only during the weekends of September 13 and 14, and 20 and 21.

Network Rail said the repairs were urgent as the bridge – built using a Western Box design – was showing signs of cracking.

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Speaking before work began, a spokesperson said: “There is a design defect at the end of each of these that may eventually result in fracturing of the steel beam. One has already started to crack.

“We’ll strengthen the bridge by adding new support beams underneath. This will stop the weight of trains going through the older beams and causing fractures to form.

“The entire bridge will be grit-blasted, cleaned and repainted – and we’ll be fixing parts of the stonework at either end of the structure.”