MOTORISTS in Southampton are celebrating after a city bridge has reopened after being shut for more than half a year.

Central Bridge will open at 11.30am after more than six months of repair works.

The bridge was originally supposed to close for 24 weeks to replace a failing waterproof layer that protects the 130-year-old brick structure.

But works took nearly three months longer than planned after engineers discovered several additional faults.

The bridge will now have a new road layout, designed to allow traffic to access the Itchen Bridge from Terminus Terrace and a new two-way cycle way along Marsh Lane, which is part of the Eastern Cycle Route.