The £46 million new Dyfi Bridge will be open to vehicles and pedestrians in a few weeks’ time, following a three-year construction period.

A representative of Alun Griffiths Contractors, the company behind the construction of the new bridge connecting Corris to Machynlleth, confirmed that the bridge would be open to the public on Friday, February 2.

While the bridge is still scheduled to officially open with a formal ceremony in spring 2024, public access to the bridge will be open to allow a road closure along a stretch of the A493 in front of Dyfi Cottages.

The A493 will be closed from February 10, to allow for drainage works for the new bridge, which will be open during the closure to allow people to cross the river.

The new Dyfi Bridge will form part of a new single carriageway road will join the existing A487 south east of Pont-ar-Ddyfi bridge.

Construction on the bridge began in spring 2021, and was due to be completed in spring 2023. Supply chain issues meant a planned September 2023 opening was also missed.

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The Welsh Government says the existing nineteenth century Pont-ar-Ddyfi bridge, 480m downstream from the new structure, “was not designed to carry the current volume of traffic”, and is regularly closed by flooding.

The bridge is intended to make it easier to cross the River Dyfi, and to access jobs, healthcare and schools in Machynlleth.

During the A493 closure, which is expected to last no longer than 30 days, the Pont-ar-Ddyfi bridge will be closed to the public and used for workers to access the road in front of Dyfi Cottages while the works are completed.

Alan Griffiths Contractors held a number of drop-in sessions in October 2023 with residents, reporting that they were contacted by emergency services, schools and supply chain distribution centres.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As you will be aware, this section of the A493 is very narrow and to safely undertake the drainage works required, a road closure will be necessary to halt vehicle access for a period.

“The Welsh Government is aware of the inconvenience this will cause, and the project team are currently considering mitigating options.”