WORK to fix the damage caused to Gunnislake’s Newbridge is set to be completed this month, with a reopening date expected to be Friday, April 26.

Commuters across the Devon and Cornwall border on the A390 have had to take a major diversion since the bridge was closed on Tuesday, April 2, after a car collided with the 15th century, Grade I Listed bridge.

Devon County Council, which has responsibility for the bridge, confirmed to the Times this week that access for vehicles across the bridge would be reinstated in just over two weeks’ time.

Engineers removed loose coping stones last week to avoid the possibility of them falling into the river and erected a cantilever scaffolding structure to provide a platform below the bridge to be able to assess the damage.

The cantilever scaffold is built from above the bridge and uses weight on one side to counterbalance the weight of engineers and equipment on the platform on the other side.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said last week that teams were working hard on site to make progress as quickly and safely as possible.

However, due to it being a Grade 1 Listed structure, it had to be a ‘sympathetic repair’ meaning the use of lime mortar which took longer to cure to get up to strength.

On Tuesday, the council spokesperson confirmed to the Times: ‘Our teams have been able to assess the extent of the damage to the bridge and contractors have started work on site to carry out repairs.

‘It is hoped that work to rebuild the damaged section of the bridge can be completed and the bridge be reopened by Friday, April 26.’

In the meantime, Devon County and Cornwall councils’ highways teams are working together to sign and divert traffic around the bridge.

Plymouth Citybus has also put an emergency timetable in place for its 79 and 79A services through Gunnislake, diverting through Treburley and Milton Abbot.

Although the bridge closure has caused frustration for many, it has provided great material for a witty song by local musician Anthony Ives.

The satirical take on the closure of Gunnislake bridge was performed by Tony to roars of laughter at an open mic night at the Tamar Inn at Calstock on Friday.

Tony said it didn’t take long to write, having picked out facts he had heard on the news and creating the chorus from his own experience of the detour.

‘I’m chuffed it’s made people laugh as I’m sure it’s pretty tough for many villagers who run businesses,’ he said. ‘So it was nice to give them a giggle.’

To listen to the song go to the link https://soundcloud.com/tony-ives-527674810/gunny-bridge-song-upt-1 or Tonyivesmusic.com