A VICTORIAN bridge linking the east of Southampton with its city centre has today been shut for a year of safety repairs Network Rail is spending £4m to refurbish and strengthen the creaking Central Bridge, which carries the A3025 over the railway.

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Motorists travelling into the city from the Itchen toll bridge will be diverted into Albert Road North then Chapel Road to the north and into Saltmarsh Road and Canute Road to the south.

The Grade II listed bridge, which was built in the 1880s, spans former sidings on the approach to the old Southampton Terminus station.

The work will not affect freight train services travelling under the bridge.