MORE than one year after cones first appeared on a busy route into Southampton, work could finally be about to start on repairs.

Back in December the Daily Echo marked the first anniversary of the cones appearing on the Mountbatten Way bridge after a vehicle crashed into the parapet in December 2000.

Now delicate work is about to begin on repairing the bridge which was weakened in the accident.

A crunch meeting will be held on May 10 between Southampton City Council and Railtrack to decide how long the work will take to complete.

A council spokeswoman explained there were two options.

The first would see the work completed in a couple of months and with minimum disruption.

The second, more involved, option would lead to the railway line below the bridge needing to be closed and would cause hold-ups for train commuters.

Preliminary work is due to start in the next few weeks and, if the speedier repair option is chosen, the work could be completed by the beginning of August.

When the Daily Echo first investigated the cause of the hold-up in repairs, a web of confusion was revealed.

Council transport bosses said they were waiting to hear from Railtrack, the company in charge of Britain's railway lines, as the repairs called for closure of one of the tracks.

A spokeswoman for Railtrack said the company knew nothing about the work until the Daily Echo made contact - and the council only asked for a "possession" or closure of the line one week later.

When the repairs finally start there will be no fresh disruption for motorists as the cones and 30mph limit which have existed for more than a year will simply remain in place.