WORK to improve the safety of the narrow bridge at Hinton Admiral begins on Monday.

Hampshire County Council wants to improve the safety of the bridge at Station Road for both road and railway users, with the work expected to take six weeks to complete.

The improvements will include the installation of traffic signals on each side of the bridge on Station Road while signals will also be constructed on the two side roads – Hinton Wood Lane and Station Approach Road.

Footways will be built over the bridge, extending into Hinton Wood Lane and Station Approach Road to provide “safe pedestrian access to the station”.

The works also aim to improve safety for vehicles leaving Hinton Wood Lane and Station Approach Road and reduce the risk of vehicles hitting the parapets.

Cllr Mel Kendal, executive member for environment and transport at Hampshire County Council said: “A risk assessment, carried out in accordance with Department for Transport guidance, identified this bridge as in need of safety improvements.

“By reducing the speed of traffic approaching the site with traffic lights permitting one-way traffic, and in keeping vehicles away from the parapets, the risk of road vehicles accidentally getting on to the railway line is reduced significantly.

“We consulted with Network Rail and the Police to develop the scheme and local councillors are supportive.

“We have notified residents who will be directly affected by the work. “We will do our very best to keep disruption to a minimum and ask people to bear with us during any inconvenience this essential work may cause.”

Caroway Civil Engineering Ltd will be carrying out the work.

Both pedestrian and vehicle access to Hinton Admiral Station will be maintained.