Tweed Bridge to close to traffic for four weeks

Motorists will have limited use of the world’s oldest trafficcarrying suspension bridge from today as it shuts for vital inspections in a bid to save its future.

The Union Chain Bridge, built over the River Tweed in 1820, has provided a link between Scotland and England for almost 200 years.

Designed by Scots chain pioneer Captain Sir Samuel Brown, the 137m crossing was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world and the first vehicular bridge of its kind in the UK.

The iconic structure, which links the villages of Fishwick in Berwickshire and Horncliffe in Northumberland, needs urgent conservation and engineering repairs to survive.

It will be checked ahead of a grant application towards a £7.3m repair project to safeguard its future ahead of its 200th anniversary.

For four weeks from today, the bridge will be closed to motors from 9am to 3.30pm on weekdays, although pedes- trians, cyclists and equestrians will still be able to use the crossing.

A project spokesman said: “We are now working hard on our second round submission, which this closure is a vital part of. The historic bridge is a single suspension span of timber construction supported from wrought iron chains by wrought iron hanger bars.”