WORK on a major Hampshire road was due to begin today.

Redbridge Causeway is being repaired as part of works set to take between 18 and 20 months to complete.

Engineers will work to repair the concrete structure of the Redbridge Viaduct - which carries the A35 westbound carriageway between M271 Redbridge Roundabout and Totton - and Redbridge Road bridge, which carries the A35 Eastbound carriageway over Test Lane and Old Redbridge Road in Southampton.

It comes as the set of concrete bridges over the River Test was found in “poor condition” and had 21 joints replaced last year.

Now the concrete under the bridges is set to be repaired.

Highway bosses said the A35 will be open at all times during the works unless in emergency situations. But Test Lane and Old Redbridge Road in Southampton will be closed to traffic to facilitate works on the either side of the road supports.

The footway on the southern side of the Viaduct will also be closed to the public for about four months and a signed diversion route for pedestrians will be in place but the date for the closure is yet to be determined.

The scheme is led by Hampshire County Council. In a statement the authority said: “This package of works will involve repairs to the concrete under the bridges which will be undertaken in phases.

"The concrete repair work will protect over 100 supports of the Redbridge Viaduct and Redbridge Road bridges.

"It will be carried out in a sequence of removal and localised patch repairs in order to avoid the need for temporary propping and carriageway closures of the road above.

"A cathodic protection system will also be installed to effectively prolong the life span of the existing structures.”